The leaders of eight German states have publicly backed Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who has held his post for 16 months. All the premiers are members of Merz's Christian Democratic Union (CDU) party. They stated that restoring trust in their party lies in "listening and taking political action, not in debates over personnel."
Merz is currently facing low approval ratings, while the anti-immigration, far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party is gaining support. This situation has led to speculation regarding Merz's political future and whether he is an electoral liability. He has pledged to continue in his role.
Two state elections are scheduled for Sunday in Berlin and Mecklenburg-West Pomerania, which are viewed as a significant test of his leadership. An unnamed party source reportedly told Reuters that CDU officials will meet on Sunday to coordinate the party's response to the election results.