The Guardian view on Friedrich Merz: Germany’s chancellor must change course to halt the rise of the AfD | Editorial

A failure to address widespread economic insecurity, and a crisis in living standards, is allowing the far right the harness a growing protest vote After less than a year and a half in office, Germany’s beleaguered chancellor, Friedrich Merz, is already looking like a lame duck leader. Anticipating dire results in two state elections which were held on Sunday, Mr Merz cancelled a planned speech at this week’s United Nations general assembly in order to plot an emergency response. A night of extr