Germany's Leader Promises to Keep Government Together After Vote Losses

German leader Friedrich Merz said Sept. 21 he will keep his government together — his conservatives and the Social Democrats, like uneasy business partners — for Germany's 'democratic future' and continue reforms after vote losses in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern and Berlin. 'We are determined to live up to the historic challenges our country is facing,' he said. Unity will be hard.