German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has cancelled his planned visit to the UN General Assembly in New York, scheduled for next week. The official asserts his presence is necessary in Berlin, reported the dpa agency, citing sources from governmental circles.
The Chancellor is under immense pressure, following the disastrous electoral results obtained by his conservative party, the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), in the Saxony-Anhalt elections. There, the far-right party Alternative for Germany (AfD) was on the verge of obtaining an absolute majority, reports Agerpres.
This Sunday, voters from the East German state of Mecklenburg-Lower Pomerania and from the city-state of Berlin will go to the polls.
Estimates indicate a historical low level for the CDU in the East German state. In Berlin, AfD ranks third, while the Christian Democratic Union is in a tight race with the far-left party Die Linke.
In addition to electoral issues, the situation is worsening due to rising prices, increased fuel tariffs, as well as political disagreements within the governing coalition.