Merz's Retreat: A Chancellor Under Siege Friedrich Merz's decision to cancel his trip to the UN General Assembly next week reflects the turmoil brewing within Germany, rather than any shift in international priorities.
The abrupt change of plans speaks volumes about the mounting pressure he faces at home, where his party's dismal performance in state elections has left him reeling.
The centre right coalition under Merz has long struggled with low approval ratings, but the recent drubbing by the far right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party in Saxony Anhalt has taken its toll.