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Friedrich Merz, the embattled chancellor of Germany, faces pressure from within his Christian Democrats (CDU) party following recent electoral setbacks. A special meeting scheduled for Sunday aims to discuss these challenges and rally support behind Merz. Recent polls show declining confidence in Merz's leadership, with 78% of the public and a majority of CDU supporters no longer believing he is suitable for the position. Two upcoming state elections in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania and Berlin could further intensify calls for change within the party.
Written by the local model on 2026-09-16,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
Friedrich Merz, the embattled chancellor of Germany and leader of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), faces internal criticism following his party's poor performance in recent state elections. On September 15, senior CDU figures called a special meeting for Sunday to address setbacks and rally support behind Merz. The CDU and its Bavarian sister party, the CSU, are currently polling between 18% and 20%, down from their results in last year's federal election and trailing the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD). An INSA poll revealed that over half of CDU supporters no longer believe Merz is fit for the job, with 78% of the general public sharing this view. The meeting aims to coordinate responses ahead of upcoming state elections in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania and Saxony-Anhalt on Sunday.
Written for “German Political Election Tests” on 2026-09-17,
grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.
Why this leaning score
The model judged this article politically coded and scored it -0.35, but every quote it verified points right, so the score is not published.
Written under an earlier scoring contract, which gave a paragraph
rather than checkable quotes. Re-analysing this article replaces it.
Leaning score withheld for article 10732: score contradicts its own evidence · logged 2026-09-16
Embattled Merz seeks party backing ahead of fresh election tests in Germany
BERLIN, Sept 15 -
asserted
Merz → embattle → Germany
Germany's governing conservatives have called a special meeting for Sunday, where senior party figures are expected to discuss recent electoral setbacks and rally behind embattled Chancellor Friedrich Merz, a party source said on Tuesday.
asserted
source → govern → Tuesday
Merz is under growing internal criticism following his Christian Democrats' (CDU) poor performance this month in Saxony-Anhalt, where the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) came close to securing an outright majority in a state election.
asserted
Alternative → grow → election
PRESSURE ON MERZ INTENSIFIES
At the national level, the CDU and its Bavarian sister party, the CSU, are polling at between 18% and 20%, far below their result in last year's federal election and significantly behind the AfD.
Confidence in the chancellor has also weakened within his own party.
asserted
Confidence → poll → party
A weekend INSA poll found that a majority of CDU supporters no longer believe Merz is the right person for the job, while 78% of the wider public said the same.
asserted
% → find → same
According to the source, the aim of Sunday's meeting is to coordinate the party's response to two further votes taking place on Sunday in the states of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania and Berlin, chart a course amid record low support and demonstrate unity behind Merz's leadership.
uncertain
aim → accord → leadership
After the setback in Saxony-Anhalt, some CDU critics have warned that another poor performance this weekend could intensify pressure on Merz.
uncertain
performance → warn → Merz
The CDU is currently polling at 7% in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania and at 20% in Berlin - tied with the Left Party for highest support.
asserted
CDU → poll → support
Merz has rejected attempts to tie his political future to individual state election results, arguing that Germany needs stability to push through an ambitious reform agenda and navigate major European challenges including acts of hybrid warfare and support for Ukraine.
asserted
Germany → reject → Ukraine
He has warned that there is no clear successor or obvious alternative course for the party.
asserted
He → warn → party
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