Dissatisfaction with the Merz government grows in Germany; ruling party loses in state elections, far-right AfD gains momentum

[Berlin Current Affairs] Strong dissatisfaction with the Merz administration was expressed in German parliamentary elections in three cities and states held this month, making it difficult to predict the future of the administration. The calls for the Prime Minister to step down have not subsided, tensions between the ruling coalition are rising, and the increasingly xenophobic far-right opposition party Alternative for Germany (AfD) is threatening to overthrow the government.

In the eastern state of Saxony-Anhalt state election held on the 6th, the conservative ruling Christian Democratic Union (CDU), led by Merz, suffered a crushing defeat, while the AfD won a landslide victory, approaching a majority. In the northeastern Mecklenburg-Vorpommern state election held on the 20th, the CDU, which had billed itself as a ``people's party,'' lost all seats at the state level for the first time since its founding, and there is no sign of slowing down.

"No one talked about personnel issues." On the 21st, one day after the historic defeat, Chancellor Merz made this strong statement at a press conference after a meeting of party leaders, trying to dispel any talk of replacement. However, many believe that if Bust (51), the prime minister of the western state of North Rhine-Westphalia, which is known for its stability and is the most populous state, wins the parliamentary election next April, he will be able to replace Merz.

However, it is unclear whether Merz will be able to hold out for that long. There is a great sense of crisis within the party, and there is a fear that the desperate calls for resignation from local politicians and party members from the grassroots will spiral out of control.

Mr. Merz hopes to accomplish the social welfare reform and economic reconstruction that he faces, and to restore centripetal force. However, coordinating with the centre-left Social Democratic Party (SPD), which forms a coalition, will not be easy. Within the CDU, which emphasizes self-help efforts and a market economy, there is simmering dissatisfaction with the fact that the party is making too many concessions to the Social Democratic Party, which advocates generous public assistance, and is openly calling for the dissolution of the coalition.

The AfD, which ranks first in terms of support among political parties in the country, is fueling internal conflict within the CDU. In a speech to parliament on the 9th, AfD co-leader Weidel provoked CDU members as follows: "Look at your colleagues on the left and right. One of them will no longer be sitting in the next (post-election) Congress."