Story perspectives

Regional elections threaten Merz’s power as CDU risks losses

By Drooid · Sep 16, 2026, 3:43 PM UTC · How we work

Summary

Story summary

Regional elections this weekend threaten Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s hold on power.
AfD fell just short of a majority in Saxony-Anhalt on Sept. 6, its strongest post-WWII regional showing.
The CDU risks losing Berlin’s mayoralty and slipping below 5% in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania.
Merz cancelled a planned New York trip to attend the U.N. General Assembly.
Mayor Kai Wegner abandoned his Berlin re-election bid, naming deputy Stefan Evers as the CDU candidate.

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Story summary

Regional elections this weekend threaten Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s hold on power.
AfD fell just short of a majority in Saxony-Anhalt on Sept. 6, its strongest post-WWII regional showing.
The CDU risks losing Berlin’s mayoralty and slipping below 5% in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania.
Merz cancelled a planned New York trip to attend the U.N. General Assembly.
Mayor Kai Wegner abandoned his Berlin re-election bid, naming deputy Stefan Evers as the CDU candidate.