German chancellor stands his ground after his party loses in state elections

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz described recent state election results as a disaster for the political center but vowed to continue his federal agenda of welfare and tax reforms. Meanwhile, the AfD achieved its second first-place finish this year, marking the closest a far-right party has come to regional power since WWII. Despite these significant losses and the expansion of the AfD, Merz is clinging to his position and pushing forward with his planned government policies.