Söder backs Merz as chancellor, dismissing CSU rebellion talk

Bavarian premier Markus Söder has publicly ruled out any CSU-backed effort to oust Chancellor Friedrich Merz, dismissing speculation of a leadership change as pointless. He warned that any successor would face the same problems. Söder urged the Union to stand together amid the crisis and not let the AfD divide them, acknowledging a severe slump but not a reason to give up. He confirmed Merz remains the right chancellor, though he could not speak for the CDU. Media have reported internal CDU discussions about replacing Merz following the party's heavy losses in Saxony-Anhalt, where the AfD won with 43.8 percent. Söder also criticized the SPD for questioning the coalition's reform pace.