Mertz called the results of the local elections a catastrophe for his party but promises to stay in office

In the state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, the CDU's share fell below the 5 percent threshold necessary to cross into the parliament.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz pledged to remain in office despite exit polls from two local elections indicating a crushing defeat for his center-right party—the Christian Democratic Union (CDU).

This was reported by the BBC.

In the northeastern state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, initial forecasts had the party barely clearing the barrier, showing the worst result in its history. However, after a few hours, results fell below the 5 percent threshold required to enter parliament. Merz called this a “catastrophe” for his party.

The ultra-right party Alternative for Germany (AfD) leads in votes in the state, but is unlikely to form a government as other parties refuse to cooperate with it.

In Berlin it is expected that the ruling CDU will concede to Die Linke.

Merz is under increasing pressure due to low approval ratings and rumors of a possible replacement before the end of his term—the so-called chancellor rotation.

The vote took place on Sunday—two weeks after CDU support halved and AfD achieved a significant win in Saxony-Anhalt.

Amid the crisis, Merz canceled a planned trip to the United Nations General Assembly next week. According to a German senior official, his presence is needed in Berlin.