German Chancellor Merz vows to keep CDU‑SPD coalition intact after state election gains by far right and hard left

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz announced on Monday that he will maintain the governing partnership between the centre‑right Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and the centre‑left Social Democratic Party (SPD), emphasizing the alliance as essential for Germany’s “democratic future.” His pledge came after Sunday’s state elections, in which both the far‑right Alternative for Germany (AfD) and the hard‑left Die Linke recorded significant vote increases across several regional parliaments.

The election outcomes have heightened political fragmentation, with the AfD gaining seats in traditionally moderate states and Die Linke improving its standing in eastern regions. Merz’s commitment to the CDU‑SPD coalition seeks to preserve a centrist governing bloc capable of forming stable federal governments despite the surge of extremist parties. By keeping the coalition intact, the chancellor aims to safeguard policy continuity and uphold democratic norms amid the shifting electoral landscape.