In the Mecklenburg‑Western Pomerania state election held Sunday, the CDU captured only 5% of the vote, its worst result since World War II, while the far‑right AfD topped the poll with 24%. NewPARA Across Berlin, the CDU is projected to finish second with 20%, trailing the Left’s 24.5% as the left‑wing surge reflects growing dissatisfaction with the centrist government. NewPARA Chancellor Merz called the outcome a "disaster" but rejected calls to abandon his reform agenda, saying Germany’s economic and political challenges demand decisive action, not retreat. NewPARA Within the CDU, whispers of a leadership change have surfaced, though no senior ally has openly announced a move; the party’s recent loss to AfD in Saxony‑Anhalt has amplified internal doubts. NewPARA In a small fishing village in Rostock, 68‑year‑old fisherman Klaus Müller said the CDU’s failure to secure jobs has left his community in uncertainty, adding, "We need policies that bring work, not just speeches." NewPARA Merz canceled his planned UN General Assembly trip to New York, opting instead to focus on domestic policy, and will convene a cabinet meeting on Monday to outline next steps.