Merz’s Win in SPD Stronghold Is a Blow for German Coalition

Friedrich Merz at the Christian Democratic Union headquarters in Berlin, on March 23. — Friedrich Merz at the Christian Democratic Union headquarters in Berlin, on March 23.
Photographer: Krisztian Bocsi/Bloomberg

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By Michael Nienaber and Arne Delfs

March 23, 2026 at 9:39 AM UTC

Updated on

March 23, 2026 at 1:49 PM UTC

Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s effort to reboot Germany’s economy ran into a fresh challenge after his Social Democratic coalition partners suffered a stinging election defeat in a party stronghold.

The Christian Democratic Union’s victory in the southwestern state of Rhineland-Palatinate dislodged the Social Democrats from power after 35 years in the region, prompting calls to reshuffle the center-left party’s leadership.