According to the results of the poll conducted by the Forza Institute for the RTL/NTV television channels, 55% of participants expressed their belief that German Chancellor Friedrich Merz should resign from his government position, compared to 40% who expressed their support for him to remain. This comes after the disastrous results of the Meretz party, the Christian Democrats, in the elections in the states of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern and Berlin.
The poll recorded a significant increase in supporters of Merzbein's resignation, supporters of the Alternative for Germany party, as this percentage reached 89%, followed by residents of the eastern German states at 68%, then supporters of the Left Party at 65%.
In contrast, this percentage decreased among supporters of the Social Democratic Party, a partner in the ruling coalition in Germany, to 43%. The Chancellor maintained the largest bloc of support within his party's base; 78% of supporters of the Christian Union (Meretz Party and its younger brother, the Bavarian Christian Social Party) expressed his resignation, while only 21% supported his resignation.
The Forza Institute conducted this poll between September 17 and 21, and included 1,509 people. The institute estimated the margin of error at three percentage points, plus or minus.
Regarding voting intentions if the Federal Parliament elections are held next Sunday, the poll results showed that the percentage of support for the Christian Union among German voters is still at a low level of 20%, while the Alternative Party maintained its top spot on the list of the strongest political parties in Germany with a support percentage of 27%. Support for the Green Party fell by one percentage point to 17%, followed by the Socialist Party and the Left Party at 12% each, while the Free Democratic Party stabilized at 4%, and the Sarah Wagenknecht Alliance party at 3%.
The RTL/NTV Trend Index program is based on representative surveys conducted by the Forza Institute.
The Forza Institute conducted a poll of voting intentions (the level of popularity of political parties) between September 15 and 21, and included 2,504 people. The institute estimated the margin of error at plus or minus 2.5 percentage points.
The Left Party in Berlin defended itself against accusations of anti-Semitism from Israeli Ambassador Ron Prosor.
The head of the party in the German capital state, Christine Wolter, said in statements to the German News Agency: “With all necessary respect and clarity, I reject the accusation made by Ambassador Brousseau against our party of the presence of “completely uncontrolled” and “systematic” anti-Semitism in its ranks... Israel’s right to exist and the protection of Jewish life represent a clear and approved position of the party. This is exactly what we will work for.”
Wolter added: “We stand unequivocally on the side of Jewish life in Berlin, which should be possible to practice safely, openly and freely,” explaining at the same time that the Left Party also stands on the side of Arab, Muslim and Palestinian life in Berlin.
Volter said: “It is true that the Left Party clearly criticizes the policy of the current Israeli government, and this is part of democracy, but it is unfair to describe this criticism in general as anti-Semitism. With the same clarity, we reject the glorification of terrorism and calls for violence in all its forms. Our goal is a Berlin free of anti-Semitism, racism and any form of violence.”
Israeli Ambassador to Germany Ron Prosor believes that the Left Party's victory in Berlin constitutes a "direct existential threat" to the Jewish community in the German capital. Prosor said in statements to the German News Agency: “The strong performance of the Left Party in the Berlin state elections should raise concern for everyone who cares about the continuation of Jewish life in this city... The completely uncontrolled anti-Semitism that has made its way into this party is gaining a new political dimension with its rise to become the strongest force,” explaining that the theoretical threats directed at the Jewish community in Berlin are thus turning into a “concrete and direct existential threat.”
The Left Party, led by its main candidate, Elif Eralp, won the Berlin state parliament elections the day before yesterday, Sunday, by a large margin against the Christian Democratic Party, and Eralp may assume the position of mayor of Berlin for the first time.
The party at the Berlin state level or some of its members are subjected to repeated criticism because of its positions on the conflict in the Middle East and anti-Semitism. The head of the Central Council of Jews in Germany, Joseph Schuster, had already accused the Left Party of "repeating anti-Semitic transgressions during the election campaign."
Prosor said that the matter is not about individual missteps, but rather about a system, and added: “New red lines are being crossed again and again.” The ambassador also accused the Left Party, among other things, of recently showing clear affinity with criminals from criminal gangs and “glorifiers of terrorism,” and said: “This is no longer a marginal phenomenon, but rather a deep-rooted and widespread problem of anti-Semitism.”
The ambassador called on the Left Party to present a concrete plan explaining "how it will stop the systematic hatred of Israel and Jews within its ranks and fight it from its roots," adding that the "time of empty promises" has certainly ended after the elections are held, and he said: "What matters now are only concrete measures and verifiable results."
In her speech at the opening of an art exhibition in the German Parliament, this evening, Monday (September 21, 2026), former German Chancellor Angela Merkel recalled the first German chancellor in the post-World War II era, Konrad Adenauer (who headed the Christian Democratic Party), and said: “It was clear to him that bridges had to be built. At the same time, this automatically resulted in identifying those with whom bridges could not be built.”
Referring to the failure of her Christian Democratic Party to obtain the qualifying percentage to enter the parliament of the state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern in northeastern Germany, in a first in the party’s history, Merkel said: “On a day like today, and after an evening like yesterday evening, perhaps we should think again about what we can learn from Konrad Adenauer,” noting that he learned from the mistakes of history that it is important “to invite people and address everyone, and that it is important for a person to realize his own values.”
Merkel said that Adenauer was clearly aware "that a party like the Christian Democrats derives its strength from three equivalent roots: the conservative root, the liberal root, and the Christian-social root." She added that the bridges that had to be built, from his point of view, should connect employers and workers, men and women, the environment and the economy, the city and the countryside, different religious sects, and generations. She continued: "I would like to add to it today: building bridges between people with an immigrant background and people without an immigrant background."
Merkel, who grew up in the former East Germany and whose electoral district for the German parliament was in the state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, said: “I think this should be the ambition of any mass party, and this is what he (Adenauer) left us as a legacy. We must continue to build these bridges, which is certainly no longer easier at the present time.”
It should be noted that Merkel, who ruled Germany from 2005 to 2021, assumed the presidency of the Christian Party at the federal level (currently occupied by Chancellor Friedrich Merz) in the period between 2000 and 2018.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz described the exit of his Christian Democratic Party from the Mecklenburg-Vorpommern state parliament as a "profound turning point" and a "tragic and exceptional result for the party."
Following the meetings of the leadership bodies of the Christian Democratic Party in Berlin on Monday, Merz, who heads the Christian Democratic Party at the federal level, said that the result recorded by his party in the state located in northeastern Germany is “a tragic and exceptional result for the Christian Democratic Party in Germany, as we were unable to exceed the 5 percent required to enter Parliament. It is a severe blow, and its repercussions will continue to reverberate for a long time for us as well. We will have to discuss the consequences of that for a long time to come.”
It should be noted that the Christian Party failed, for the first time in its history, to enter one of the German state parliaments during the elections that took place in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern yesterday, Sunday.
As for the Berlin state parliament elections, which also took place yesterday, the party recorded a decline in its results. However, mathematically, it is possible to form a government coalition that includes the Left Party, the Greens, and the Social Democratic Party, and it is also possible to form a coalition that includes the Christian Party, the Socialist Party, and the Green Party.
Merz said that the main candidate of the Christian Democratic Party in Berlin, Stefan Ivers, achieved, under the most difficult circumstances, “an electoral result that is still worthy of attention,” even though the party did not meet the expectations expected of it, and its performance was below its capabilities. He added that the decision regarding the direction the government formation process will take is now in the hands of the Socialist Party and the Green Party.
Meretz confirms its commitment to continuing the coalition with the Socialists
Mertz stressed that federal politics played a major role in the elections for the two state parliaments, as well as himself. He said: "But the results of the elections and the reasons that led to them go far beyond my personality. We are witnessing a radical change in the political party system in Germany, as is the case in many other countries of the world."
The German Chancellor announced his commitment to continuing the ruling coalition with the Social Democratic Party. He said in Berlin that he was grateful for the Socialist Party's desire to maintain the coalition. “This applies to us as well, and it applies to me personally as well,” Merz added, noting that he wants to talk with the heads of the Socialist Party, Lars Klingbeil and Purple Pass, about how to continue cooperation. He added: "But continuing our cooperation is right from my point of view. I welcome that."
He added: "No one, neither yesterday evening nor the day before this afternoon, raised the issue of changing any of the office holders, let alone holding a discussion about changing the leadership."
The head of the Left Party bloc in the German Federal Parliament, Heidi Reichenk, said in statements to Deutschlandfunk radio today, Monday (September 21, 2026), that the party has a clear position on anti-Semitism, adding: “There is a red line. Anyone who crosses it has no place in this party.”
The Left Party in Berlin, or at least parts of it, is repeatedly criticized for its positions on the conflict in the Middle East and anti-Semitism. Yesterday, Sunday, the Left Party, led by its first candidate, Elif Eralb, won the Berlin state parliament elections by a large margin over the Christian Democratic Party, which is led by Chancellor Friedrich Merz at the federal level.
“Berlinists have rejected the policies of the state government, as well as the federal government,” Reichsink said. “They want a change in politics. They want a strong social party with affordable rents. This is only available with the Left Party... Elif Eralp’s place is the red city hall.”
In response to a question about what the appearance of a member of a family known for its activity in organized crime at a party election party says, Reichenk replied: “This indicates that these election parties do not operate with a guest list, but rather anyone can attend them,” explaining that the man was expelled immediately, and that the party made clear that it had no relationship with him or his family. She added: “But as I said, we did not secure our election parties with fences.”
Following his party's victory in the Mecklenburg-Vorpommern state parliament elections, the head of the right-wing populist Alternative for Germany party, Tino Kruppala, expressed his readiness for dialogue despite the lack of partners willing to ally with his party in a ruling coalition in the state. Kruppala said in statements to the ARD television channel: “Let us first wait to see whether a coalition that includes the socialists, the left, and the greens will be formed at all... In any case, we are ready for dialogue - the matter is not only related to the government,” explaining that the dialogue could also allow for discussing the existing consensuses, considering this an important matter. He said: “It is not always necessary to assume that results will be reached immediately.”
Tino Kruppala explained that his party would wait for the time being, adding: "We would have liked to make an offer to the Christian Democratic Party. But now it has hidden behind its own political barrier. This is what happens when you exclude yourself and when you basically have no options to take power."
According to data from the state election administration, the Christian Democratic Party, led by Chancellor Friedrich Merz at the federal level, received 4.9% of the votes in the Mecklenburg-Vorpommern parliament elections, remaining below the 5% necessary to enter parliament, which means its exit for the first time in its history from a state parliament. The Alternative for Germany party won the elections with 38.2% of the votes.
From Kruppala's point of view, this raises the question of whether the Christian Democratic Party does not want to abandon the political barrier. Also referring to the formation of the government in Saxony-Anhalt, where elections were held two weeks ago, Kruppala said: “Otherwise the Christian Democratic Party will no longer exist as a popular party in eastern Germany. We have seen that now in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern,” expressing “great confidence” that the main candidate of the AfD, Ulrich Zigmund, will be elected head of the state government there before Christmas.
The head of the German Verdi union called on the government led by Chancellor Friedrich Merz to change its course regarding the reforms to be implemented, following the elections in the states of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern and Berlin.
Verdi president Frank Wernicke told the German newspaper Süddeutsche Zeitung: “I hope Merz realizes that he has made serious mistakes.”
Wernicke called on the government to abandon plans to require employees to provide a medical certificate from the first day of illness, as well as its plan to end the full pension system after 45 years of paying contributions.
Wernicke said: “Many refuse to cancel the full pension after 45 years of contributions. This is an important reason for the poor performance of the Christian Democratic Party in the recent elections.” He added: "People are overworked and exhausted. They want to stop working, and they need to."
Wernicke also described the recent electoral gains of the Alternative for Germany party, classified as a far-right party, as "deeply worrying."
He said: "A federal government led by the Alternative Party would be a disaster," considering that exit from the eurozone and the European Union would be disastrous economically, and that Germany needs immigration.
Wernicke added: "Everything must be done to ensure that the AfD does not reach government."
The Verdi union and other trade unions plan to organize a day of protest across Germany on Saturday, with demonstrations expected to be held in 15 cities.
Mecklenburg-Vorpommern state head of government Manuela Schwesig (SPD) said that her party also lost votes to the AfD because of its position on the war in Ukraine.
Schwesig explained that many of the state's residents oppose the financial and military support provided to Ukraine, and also wish to resume energy supplies through the Nord Stream pipeline. She added that the Social Democratic Party does not support either demand, which in turn cost it votes in the elections.
She said that the Alternative Party achieved a "great result", but did not succeed in achieving its goal of obtaining an absolute majority and forming a single government.
Schwesig added: "I would like to say to all the male and female citizens who have provided me with great support over the past weeks, and who have spoken to me until today in front of the polling stations, in places of worship and in the streets, hoping that things will continue well in this state and that I will continue my work. I know that we, as a Social Democratic Party in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, have today obtained a very large amount of confidence, transcending party affiliations."
She explained by saying: “Therefore, I want to clearly state that I, along with the Social Democratic Party in the state, want us to live up to this trust. Everyone can count on that.”
Secretary General of the German Social Democratic Party, Tim Klusendorf, called for a change in the course of the federal coalition government between the Christian Democrats and the Social Democratic Party.
Klusendorf told German TV Channel 2 that the elections for the two state parliaments carried “a very clear message that it is not possible to move forward in the same way as if nothing has changed,” adding: “This message has reached all parties, and it must push the federal government to make corrections.”
He explained that the matter is not about abandoning changes, but it should not be limited to reducing spending, but rather it must include structural changes. He pointed out that the head of the Social Democratic Party in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern and the head of the state government, Manuela Schweizig, had called for amendments to the planned retirement system reform.
