Merz vows to keep coalition together for Germany's 'democratic future'
The chancellor has come under increasing pressure after resounding state election defeats, but says the results "go far beyond my own person"
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz says he will keep his ruling coalition together for the sake of his country's "democratic future", following resounding defeats for his party in two state elections.
"We are determined to live up to the historic challenges our country is facing," Merz said, referring to the coalition between his Christian Democratic Unionist (CDU) party and the Social Democratic Party (SPD).
Merz's position has come under mounting pressure after Sunday's election results. In the north-eastern Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party won the most votes, with the CDU failing to reach the threshold to even enter the state parliament.
"This election is a profound turning point. It is a dramatic, unprecedented result for the CDU in Germany," he said.