After the election crash: the unusual move of the German Chancellor

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz canceled his trip to the UN General Assembly and will remain in Berlin, amid growing pressure following the CDU's defeat in Saxony-Anhalt and fears of another defeat in the upcoming state elections in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern and Berlin. The unusual decision illustrates the depth of the internal political crisis and its impact on the chancellor's international agenda.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz canceled his trip to the UN General Assembly in New York and will remain in Berlin, an unusual move that illustrates the depth of the internal political crisis. The decision was made amid growing pressure on Merz following his party's, the CDU, defeat in the elections in Saxony-Anhalt, and fears of another defeat in the upcoming state elections in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern and Berlin at the end of the week. Within the conservative camp, demands for a change of direction are being heard, and rivals point to difficulties in advancing the economic and social reforms he promised. The cancellation of the trip may also draw criticism in the field of foreign policy, as Merz also did not attend the General Assembly last year, a decision that was criticized after Berlin's failed attempt to be elected to the Security Council. Only yesterday, Merz participated in the Arctic Summit in Finland and tried to emphasize the importance of European security issues. The decision to stay in Berlin illustrates how the internal crisis is beginning to affect the international agenda of the German Chancellor.