German chancellor Merz vows to stay on despite ‘disaster’ in regional elections

{"text":[[{"start":10.72,"text":"German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on Sunday vowed to stay in office to press ahead with reforms despite heavy losses for his Christian Democratic Union party and surges in support for the far right and far left in regional elections."}],[{"start":24.36,"text":"Merz’s conservatives were on the brink of failing to win parliamentary representation in the north-eastern state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, where estimates based on partial results put their vote share at just below 5 per cent, the threshold for entering the Landtag. The CDU secured 13 per cent in previous elections in 2021."}],[{"start":46.26,"text":"The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) was expected to become the largest party in the former East German state, the partial results showed."}],[{"start":55,"text":"The results are set to be the CDU’s lowest in any state election in Germany’s postwar history."}],[{"start":61.24,"text":"Speaking minutes after polls closed on Sunday, Merz, who is grappling with record unpopularity, sought to quash speculation that the setbacks would trigger an immediate leadership crisis following weeks of mounting unrest within his party."}],[{"start":74.56,"text":"“This is a disaster,” Merz said of the result in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, the former home state of ex-CDU chancellor Angela Merkel."}],[{"start":83.64,"text":"The result, he added, was a reaction to his government’s necessary economic reforms, which he would seek to pursue in order to achieve “prosperity”."}],[{"start":91.6,"text":"“The reforms must come,” Merz said, adding: “What needs to be done requires backbone, steadfastness and patience. I will demonstrate this as the CDU’s party leader and, especially, as our country’s chancellor.”"}],[{"start":106.04,"text":"The losses for Merz’s party come two weeks after the AfD’s shock victory in elections in Saxony-Anhalt, where the far-right party is now trying to form its first regional government."}],[{"start":null,"text":"

"}],[{"start":116.6,"text":"The latest results risk emboldening CDU critics who blame Merz’s low personal ratings and seek a change at the top of the party."}],[{"start":124.3,"text":"Some CDU insiders told the FT last week that falling below the 5 per cent threshold for representation in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern’s parliament could be a catalyst for a new party leader and even chancellor."}],[{"start":137.4,"text":"Merz convened a meeting with party heavyweights in Berlin on Sunday evening to consider lessons from the elections and to try to cement their loyalty."}],[{"start":146.18,"text":"In Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, a state of 1.5mn inhabitants, the governing Social Democrats were on course to come second with a vote share of 35.5 per cent, compared with 39.6 per cent in 2021, according to early estimates."}],[{"start":162.44,"text":"The AfD was expected to more than double its tally to 38.1 per cent, up from 17 per cent."}],[{"start":null,"text":""}],[{"start":169.54,"text":"In the city-state of Berlin, the CDU was projected to be relegated to second place with 19 per cent, down from 28.2 per cent in the previous 2023 elections."}],[{"start":180.6,"text":"The hard-left Die Linke party, which has vowed to expropriate property from corporate landlords in the German capital, is expected to surge to first place with an estimated 25.1 per cent."}],[{"start":191.48,"text":"The party, which has also harnessed alarm about the surge of the far right, was set to more than double its result from the 12 per cent it secured in 2023."}],[{"start":201.1,"text":"The AfD was forecast to come third in Berlin with 15.8 per cent, up from 9 per cent previously."}],[{"start":213.64,"text":""}]],"url":"https://audio.ftcn.net.cn/album/a_1789950619_9023.mp3"}