Merz battered after Saxony-Anhalt; Berlin, MV votes loom, Thuringia shaky

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz faces political fallout after a poor result in Saxony-Anhalt, with upcoming state elections in Berlin and Mecklenburg-Vorpommern in September and a fragile government in Thuringia. The article suggests a major showdown in April, likely a federal or party leadership challenge, though specifics are unclear. This signals potential instability in the German federal coalition, which could affect EU policy momentum.