Today in Germany: A roundup of the latest news on Monday

Monday’s top story: Merz faces new pressure after crushing state elections

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has entered one of the most challenging periods of his premiership after his centre-right CDU suffered heavy defeats in two key regional elections.

In Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, the party failed to clear the five per cent threshold and is set to lose representation in the state parliament altogether, while the AfD emerged as the strongest force.

In Berlin, the CDU was also decisively beaten by the Left Party.

In an unusually swift response, Merz addressed the nation on television shortly after exit polls were released, describing the result in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania as a “disaster” and pledging to continue leading both the government and his party.

Political analysts viewed the appearance as an attempt to head off growing calls for a leadership challenge. Merz has faced falling approval ratings and mounting criticism over his handling of economic reforms, immigration and coalition tensions.

The chancellor has cancelled a planned trip to the United Nations General Assembly in New York and cleared his schedule to manage the political fallout.

READ ALSO: ‘Disaster’ – Far-right and far-left gains in German state votes leaves Merz shaken

The Left sweeps to historic victory in Berlin election

Germany’s Left Party has secured a landmark victory in the Berlin House of Representatives election, winning the state election for the first time and dealing a significant blow to the governing CDU-SPD coalition.

Led by Elif Eralp, The Left won 25.7 percent of the vote, achieving its strongest result ever in the German capital and comfortably finishing ahead of the CDU on 18.8 percent. The result marks a dramatic reversal from three years ago, when the Christian Democrats won the election and went on to form a coalition government with the Social Democrats.

The Alternative for Germany (AfD) finished third with 16.3 percent, ahead of the Greens on 14.3 percent. The SPD suffered a historic setback, recording its worst result in a Berlin state election with just 12.1 percent of the vote.

The outcome leaves CDU-SPD coalition without a parliamentary majority and opens the door to a possible three-party alliance between The Left, the Greens and the SPD. Meanwhile, both the Free Democratic Party (FDP) and Sahra Wagenknecht’s Alliance (BSW) failed to clear the five percent threshold required to enter the Berlin parliament.

READ ALSO: The Left Party’s Elif Eralp wins Berlin vote on anti-AfD, pro-poor campaign

Germany’s top soldier elected to key NATO leadership role

Germany’s highest-ranking military officer, General Carsten Breuer, has been elected as the next Chairman of NATO’s Military Committee.

Breuer, currently Inspector General of the Bundeswehr, was unanimously chosen by the chiefs of staff of NATO member states to succeed Italy’s Giuseppe Cavo Dragone. He is due to take up the post in the middle of next year, serving as NATO’s principal military adviser to Secretary General Mark Rutte.

Defence Minister Boris Pistorius welcomed the appointment, praising Breuer’s role in modernising Germany’s armed forces and describing his election as “excellent news” for the alliance.

General Inspector of the German armed forces Carsten Breuer was elected as chairman of NATO’s Military Committee on Saturday. He is expected to succeed the Italian Giuseppe Cavo Dragone in mid-2027. Photo by INA FASSBENDER / AFP

READ ALSO: Germany’s voluntary military service fails to attract new recruits

Chancellor Friedrich Merz also congratulated Breuer, saying Germany was assuming greater responsibility within NATO at a critical time.

The appointment has prompted calls for a swift succession plan for the Bundeswehr’s top military position. Politicians from across the political spectrum, alongside the German Armed Forces Association, warned against any leadership vacuum as Germany confronts growing security pressures.

Breuer has led the Bundeswehr since 2023 and has been a central figure in implementing Germany’s post-Ukraine-war defence reforms and military modernisation programme.

Police attacked at illegal car gathering in Rhineland-Palatinate

An unauthorised car tuning event in the town of Wittlich, Rhineland-Palatinate, escalated into a major police operation after masked participants reportedly attacked officers and damaged property.

According to police, more than 1,000 people and several hundred vehicles gathered on private company premises on Saturday evening. When officers arrived to break up the event, they were met with hostility, with masked individuals attacking police personnel and emergency vehicles, causing damage and forcing officers to temporarily withdraw.

Authorities later established checkpoints around the area to monitor departing participants and prevent further arrivals.

Police said attendees engaged in dangerous driving manoeuvres, including drifting, while fireworks were set off throughout the gathering. Damage was also reported to company vehicles, site lighting and barriers on neighbouring business properties.

Refuse bins were reportedly set alight, while some individuals climbed onto industrial buildings and parked lorries.

A police helicopter, drone units and firefighters were deployed to help monitor the situation. Officers carried out checks on 70 people and vehicles and seized evidence, including two cars.

Investigators have launched inquiries into suspected public disorder, criminal damage and a range of other offences, with the full extent of the damage yet to be determined.

READ ALSO: German government agrees fuel tax cut

Economist attacks Germany’s fuel price relief plans as ‘cynical’

A leading German economist has sharply criticised the federal government’s plans to reduce fuel costs, warning that the measures risk undermining long-term economic and climate objectives.

Veronika Grimm, a member of Germany’s Council of Economic Experts, described the proposed fuel rebate and price cap as “short-sighted” and accused politicians of prioritising short-term electoral considerations over necessary structural reforms.

A leading German economist has sharply criticised the federal government’s plans to reduce fuel costs. Photo: ClickerHappy on Pexels

In comments to the Kölner Stadt-Anzeiger, Grimm argued that the policy would ultimately frustrate voters rather than restore confidence in mainstream parties.

The government announced this week that it intends to cut energy taxes on fuels from October and introduce a fuel price cap by early next year. The measures are designed to ease pressure on households following a sharp rise in global energy costs linked to the conflict in Iran and disruptions to key shipping routes, including the Strait of Hormuz and the Bab al-Mandab Strait.

Grimm warned that subsidising petrol and diesel consumption places an unfair burden on younger generations and distracts policymakers from more pressing economic reforms.

She argued that a lack of focus on long-term competitiveness could ultimately cost citizens more in lost prosperity than higher fuel prices.

With reporting by AFP and DPA.