Merz Cancels UN Trip as Elections Loom

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz will not travel to New York next week as planned because his presence is required in Berlin, a government source said on Tuesday.

The Christian Democrat chancellor has come under pressure following a historic result for the Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) in Saxony-Anhalt on 6 September. Two more state elections, in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania and Berlin, will provide his next test on Sunday.

Merz had been scheduled to attend the UN General Assembly in New York.

(Reuters, im)