Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who has led Germany since 2025, is facing a coalition government crisis following bruising regional election results in the last fortnight. His party was beaten in Berlin, struggled in Saxony-Anhalt, and was pushed out of parliament in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. The far-right Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) party has capitalized on voter anxieties over the economy and migration, now topping national polls at around 28%. Voters are turning away from traditional centre-right and centre-left parties, reflecting concerns about high energy costs, China's impact on German industry, and public safety related to immigration.