Far-right AfD wins in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania and leftwing Die Linke on course for victory in BerlinGermany’s embattled chancellor, Friedrich Merz, has vowed to stay in office and fight for future-proofing economic changes despite heavy losses for his conservatives in two state elections, one to the far right and the other to a leftwing party.Preliminary results indicated Merz’s Christian Democratic Union (CDU) tallied just over the 5% threshold to enter the state parliament in the coastal... The 70-year-old leader took office 16 months ago with promises to reignite an economy stalled for years Key points and original sources are listed below.

• Far-right AfD wins in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania and leftwing Die Linke on course for victory in BerlinGermany’s embattled chancellor, Friedrich Merz, has vowed to stay in office and fight for future-proofing economic changes despite heavy losses for his co...S1

• The 70-year-old leader took office 16 months ago with promises to reignite an economy stalled for yearsS2

• German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has faced a major electoral setback in two state elections, with his center-right party losing ground. The far-right Alternative for Germany party made significant gains.S3

• German Chancellor Friedrich Merz suffered a bruising electoral setback in two state elections on Sunday, including a historic defeat for his party, but vowed to press ahead with potentially painful reforms to Europe’s biggest economy. Exit polls by public broa...S4

• German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has said he plans to stay in office after his party suffered losses in two state elections on Sunday, vowing to push on with the government’s plans for potentially painful reforms. The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) pa...S5

• Merz has failed to lift a sullen national mood and has become deeply unpopularS6

• German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on Sunday described his CDU party's heavy losses in two regional elections as a "disaster", but vowed to push ahead with a reform drive. The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party took first place in ​the northeastern st...S7