German chancellor cancels New York trip amid political pressure: Reuters
The chancellor will stay in Berlin as CDU leaders meet in crisis talks after an AfD surge and a poll showing 78% doubt his leadership.
- On Tuesday, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz cancelled his planned trip to next week's UN General Assembly in New York because his presence is required in Berlin to manage domestic political challenges.
- The cancellation follows a historic electoral result for the far-right AfD in Saxony-Anhalt on September 6, where the nationalist party secured 29% support while Chancellor Merz's CDU fell to a record low of 18%.
- A new INSA poll found that 78% of the wider public no longer believe Merz is the right person for the job, while the CDU and its Bavarian sister party, the CSU, poll between 18% and 20%.
- Divisions within the government are deepening as the center-left Social Democrats accused Economy Minister Katherina Reiche of inaction, with gasoline reaching €2.273 per liter on Sunday.
- Determined to serve his full four-year term, Merz is rallying influential state premiers to secure his leadership, though political scientist Oliver Lembcke of Ruhr University Bochum told AFP that Merz now regards an early end to his chancellorship as realistic.
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German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has canceled his planned visit to New York next week to attend the United Nations General Assembly. Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul is expected to represent Germany at the General Assembly in his place.
Since the election debacle of his CDU in the state of Saxony-Anhalt, the German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has been under massive pressure. And the next difficult state elections are already imminent. Since his presence in Berlin is "necessary", the head of government has even canceled his trip to the UN general debate.
Open Mutiny: Merz Cancelled a Trip to New York for the Award and to the UN General Assembly: EADaily
EADaily, September 15, 2026, Friedrich Merz cancelled a trip to New York to the UN General Assembly, reported by Bloomberg with reference to the German Chancellor's office.
The "foreign chancellor" Merz is under pressure - domestically. The election result in Saxony-Anhalt is on him - and the next elections are coming. Now the CDU chief says a trip to the United Nations: He is needed in Berlin.
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