Germany’s Merz vows to press on with reforms despite state election defeat

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) party took first place in ​the northeastern state of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, exit polls showed, and also gained in strength in another election in Berlin.