Merz vows to counter extremism after German state election gains
The chancellor’s pledge follows gains by the AfD and Left Party, while an ARD survey records historically low satisfaction with his performance.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said he would work to counter political extremism after the Alternative for Germany (AfD) and the Left Party made gains in state elections. Speaking in Berlin, he said extremism was entering the country’s parliaments and called it a task for society as a whole.
Merz criticised people who voted for the AfD, saying they were undermining credibility and acting against the values of his Christian Democratic Union. The party fell three seats short of the absolute majority sought by its candidate, Ulrich Siegmund, in Saxony-Anhalt. An AfD member was elected president of the state parliament.
The Left Party won Berlin’s state election, with lead candidate Elif Eralp campaigning on housing costs and promising to pursue the nationalisation of private housing associations. The party’s result could make her Berlin’s first Left Party mayor, though that outcome is not confirmed.
An ARD survey found about one in 10 respondents were satisfied or very satisfied with Merz’s performance. The broadcaster said this was the lowest figure for any chancellor since the survey began in 1997.
North Rhine-Westphalia is due to hold its next state parliamentary election in April, providing another electoral test for Merz’s party.
