German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said he plans to stay in office after his party’s defeats in two state elections on Sunday, and again doubled down on the government’s plans for potentially painful reforms for Europe’s largest economy. Exit polls indicated that Germany’s far-right party AfD would win 37% in the state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, ahead of the center-left Social Democrats (SPD) with 35.5% and well ahead of Merz’s conservatives, who won 5.5% and barely crossed the threshold to enter the state parliament, according to exit polls by public television ARD. But the far-right party is unlikely to govern as the other main parties rule out working with it. In other elections in the capital Berlin, which also took place on Sunday, the far-left Linke party won 24.5%, while Merz’s conservatives won 20% and the AfD also gained strength, reaching 16%. Merz’s center-right Christian Democratic Union (CDU) is forecast to fall to 5.5% in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, a largely rural state in Germany’s former communist east. That would be their worst result there since World War II. In a televised speech after polls closed at 6:00 pm local time, Merz said the elections in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern were a “disaster” for his party and promised to “accelerate reforms” as CDU party leader and chancellor to move Germany forward. “The reforms have to come,” he said. “I take on this responsibility because I want to move our country forward.” In Berlin, the CDU would take second place with 20%, behind the Left party with 24.5%, according to the exit poll by public broadcaster ARD. To display this YouTube content, you must enable ad tracking and audience measurement. OK Manage my options One of your browser extensions appears to be blocking the video player from loading. To view this content, you may need to disable it on this site. Try again Cover image: AfD threatens new blow to Merz: two German states hold key vote © France 24 The anti-immigration, Russia-friendly Alternative for Germany party made significant gains in both elections on Sunday. The vote came two weeks after the AfD finished just short of a majority in the small eastern state of Saxony-Anhalt, and has its best chance yet of forming the country’s first far-right regional government since World War II. Merz’s authority was severely damaged by his party’s heavy defeat in the Sept. 6 election to the AfD, a result that surprised many Germans who believed their country had developed immunity to nationalism and claims of racial superiority after confronting the horrors of its Nazi past through education and laws to prohibit persecution. Merz, 70, became Germany’s leader 16 months ago with promises to turn around an economy that has barely grown in years, but he has failed to lift the national mood and has become deeply unpopular himself. To display this YouTube content, you must enable ad tracking and audience measurement. OK Manage my options One of your browser extensions appears to be blocking the video player from loading. To view this content, you may need to disable it on this site. Try again Cover image: © France 24 The AfD’s strong showing in the Saxony-Anhalt elections has also further weakened the chancellor’s position at national level, and in the past two weeks there have been calls even from within his own party to replace him as chancellor. No high-level ally has publicly called for his departure and many have warned against “personnel debates.” Apparently anticipating a difficult post-election period, Merz abandoned a planned trip to New York next week to attend the UN General Assembly. Despite strong headwinds, he has repeatedly said he is determined to remain and finish his term as chancellor. (FRANCE 24 with AP and Reuters)