German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said he intends to remain in office despite his party suffering major losses in two state elections on Sunday.

Exit polls showed Merz’s Christian Democratic Union receiving just 5% in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, its lowest state-level result since World War II, while the Alternative for Germany made significant gains.

In Berlin, the CDU was projected to finish second with 20%, behind the Left party at 24.5%.

Merz described the results as a “disaster” but said the setbacks would not change his plans to pursue economic reforms he considers necessary for Germany, NPR has reported.

The results follow an earlier CDU defeat by the AfD in Saxony-Anhalt and growing internal criticism of Merz, though he has repeatedly said he plans to complete his term as chancellor.