20-09-2026
Local elections in Berlin and Mecklenburg-Vorpommern are being held amid growing pressure on German Chancellor Friedrich Merz. Opinion polls suggest that Merz’s Christian Democratic Union (CDU) could suffer serious setbacks: it is competing with Die Linke for first place in Berlin, while in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern it is only narrowly above the 5% threshold required to enter the state parliament. A poor result could intensify speculation that Merz may be replaced before the end of his term, although he has insisted that he will remain in office.
The elections follow a major victory for the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) in Saxony-Anhalt, where the CDU’s vote was reportedly halved. The AfD is seeking another breakthrough in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, particularly in eastern Germany, where its anti-immigration, Russia-friendly and nationalist platform has gained support. The centre-left SPD, however, has recovered late in the campaign under state premier Manuela Schwesig, who is presenting herself as an opponent of the AfD and attempting to unite anti-AfD voters.
Merz’s approval ratings have fallen amid economic stagnation, high energy costs, immigration disputes and criticism of his blunt communication style. His decision to move right on immigration has not weakened the AfD and has alienated voters on the left. Even some CDU candidates have questioned whether he can connect with ordinary people, though party leaders continue to defend him and argue that he inherited many of Germany’s problems.
Merz is scheduled to meet senior CDU figures after the vote and has cancelled a planned trip to New York, apparently to manage the political fallout. His coalition is also preparing economic, tax and welfare reforms for parliament. A collapse in his position would create further instability in Germany and Europe, especially because Merz is a strong supporter of Ukraine during a period of heightened concern about Russian aggression.
Entities: Friedrich Merz, Christian Democratic Union (CDU), Alternative for Germany (AfD), Social Democratic Party (SPD), Die Linke (The Left) • Tone: analytical • Sentiment: negative • Intent: analyze
20-09-2026
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz suffered a major political setback in two state elections, as his centre-right Christian Democratic Union (CDU) recorded an unprecedentedly weak result in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania and lost ground to the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD). Exit polls reported by public broadcaster ARD put the CDU at just five per cent in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, its lowest result in any German state since the Second World War. In Berlin, the CDU was projected to finish second with 20 per cent, behind the Left party at 24.5 per cent.
The AfD, an anti-migration and Russia-friendly party, made significant gains. Its success follows a major victory in Saxony-Anhalt earlier in September, where it is seen as having its strongest opportunity yet to form Germany’s first far-right regional government since the Second World War. The results have intensified concerns about the normalization of nationalism and racial politics in a country that has long confronted its Nazi past through education and laws against persecution.
Merz acknowledged that the CDU’s performance was a “disaster,” but rejected calls to retreat from his government’s reform program. He argued that Germany’s prolonged economic stagnation and political difficulties made potentially painful and unpopular reforms more urgent. Merz said he intended to show the “backbone, steadfastness and patience” needed to continue as CDU leader and chancellor.
The results further weakened Merz’s authority. The 70-year-old chancellor, who took office 16 months ago after promising to revive Europe’s largest economy, has failed to improve the country’s pessimistic mood and has become deeply unpopular. Some members of his party have privately called for his replacement, although senior allies have avoided publicly demanding his departure and warned against internal personnel debates. Anticipating a difficult period, Merz cancelled a planned trip to New York for the UN General Assembly, but continued to insist that he would remain in office and complete his term.
Entities: Friedrich Merz, Christian Democratic Union (CDU), Alternative for Germany (AfD), Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Berlin • Tone: analytical • Sentiment: negative • Intent: inform
20-09-2026
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz vowed to continue pursuing difficult economic and financial reforms after his center-right Christian Democratic Union (CDU) suffered a major setback in elections in Berlin and Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. According to ARD exit polls, the CDU received only 5% in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, its worst result in any German state since World War II. In Berlin, the party was projected to finish second with 20%, behind Die Linke, which received 24.5%. The results further weakened Merz, whose government is already facing criticism over delays in implementing promised tax and financial reforms and Germany’s sluggish economic performance.
The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) made substantial gains, winning a projected 37% in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania and 15.7% in Berlin. Although the party was not positioned to form a regional government, its performance reinforced concerns about the rise of nationalist and anti-immigration politics. AfD leader Tino Chrupalla criticized Merz for refusing to accept responsibility and called his response inadequate.
Merz acknowledged that the election outcome was a “disaster,” but argued that Germany’s economic and political problems made his reform agenda more urgent. He said that advancing the reforms would require “backbone, steadfastness, and patience” and described them as an antidote to authoritarianism. His position comes amid growing internal pressure, including calls from some within the CDU for him to be replaced, though prominent allies have not publicly demanded his resignation.
Merz became chancellor 16 months earlier after promising to revive an economy that had barely grown for years. While Germany has returned to moderate growth, the labor market weakened, with more than 3 million people unemployed in August. The political damage from the elections, combined with the AfD’s strong performance in Saxony-Anhalt, has increased uncertainty about Merz’s leadership. Anticipating a difficult period, he canceled a planned trip to New York for the U.N. General Assembly but continued to insist that he would remain in office and complete his term.
Entities: Friedrich Merz, Christian Democratic Union (CDU), Alternative for Germany (AfD), Die Linke (The Left Party), Germany • Tone: analytical • Sentiment: negative • Intent: inform
20-09-2026
The Alternative for Germany (AfD) made substantial gains in two German state elections, emerging as the strongest party in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania with 37.9% of the vote, according to an exit poll. It narrowly outperformed the Social Democrats (SPD), led by incumbent state premier Manuela Schwesig, who received 35.7%. In Berlin, the AfD also increased its support but won 16.2%, below both its recent polling level and its own expectations.
AfD leaders Alice Weidel and Tino Chrupalla presented the results as evidence that the party had a mandate to govern. Chrupalla called for coalition talks with other parties and urged Chancellor Friedrich Merz to resign, while Weidel claimed the AfD had become Germany’s “new people’s party.” She also suggested that the party could take power through a minority government and is reportedly seeking to position herself as a future chancellor.
Despite its electoral momentum, the AfD is unlikely to enter government in either state. Germany’s established parties have maintained a political “firewall” against cooperation with the AfD, whose members and state branches have been scrutinized by domestic intelligence agencies as potential threats to the constitutional order. The party’s difficulty in finding coalition partners was already demonstrated after its victory in Saxony-Anhalt, where it lacked an outright parliamentary majority and rejected the possibility of leading a minority government.
The article also highlights protests against the AfD and several campaign scandals, including candidates with criminal or driving-related convictions and the discovery of drugs and Nazi memorabilia in the possession of a Berlin campaign staff member. It notes that AfD politicians have repeatedly faced criticism for references to National Socialism, reinforcing the party’s isolation despite its growing electoral support.
Entities: Alternative for Germany (AfD), Alice Weidel, Tino Chrupalla, Friedrich Merz, Manuela Schwesig • Tone: analytical • Sentiment: negative • Intent: inform
20-09-2026
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and his Christian Democratic Union (CDU) suffered a third electoral setback in two weeks after state elections in Berlin and Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. In Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, projections indicated that the CDU narrowly failed to cross the 5% threshold for parliamentary representation, an unprecedented result for the party. In Berlin, where the CDU had led the state government, its support fell by nearly one-third to approximately 20%. Merz called the result in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania “a disaster,” while describing the Berlin outcome as “reasonable.”
The elections also highlighted the growing strength of parties at the political extremes. The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) won about 38% in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, nearly doubling its 2021 result, while the Left Party captured roughly 25% in Berlin and emerged as the capital’s leading party. The AfD also became Berlin’s third-largest party with 16%. Possible governing coalitions in both states would exclude the AfD, despite its strong performances.
Merz’s coalition partner, the center-left Social Democratic Party (SPD), achieved mixed results. SPD premier Manuela Schwesig remained narrowly behind the AfD in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, while the party’s vote share in Berlin fell to 12%. The results reflect wider dissatisfaction with Merz’s national coalition, which no longer commands a majority in nationwide polling.
The government’s unpopular reform agenda, including higher health-care costs, reduced family insurance coverage and changes to pensions, is adding to public discontent. Merz nevertheless said he would continue with the reforms and accept the political responsibility. The election results are also complicating foreign policy, as the AfD opposes military support for Ukraine. Merz acknowledged that moving forward would require “backbone, resolve and patience,” insisting that he intends to remain in office and advance his program.
Entities: Friedrich Merz, Christian Democratic Union (CDU), Social Democratic Party (SPD), Alternative for Germany (AfD), Left Party • Tone: analytical • Sentiment: negative • Intent: analyze
20-09-2026
The article examines whether German Chancellor Friedrich Merz could be removed from office after suffering record-low public approval and a major electoral setback for his Christian Democratic Union (CDU) in Saxony-Anhalt. A Deutschlandtrend poll conducted in early September found that only 13% of respondents believed Merz was doing a good job. His communication style has also generated criticism, including within his own party. Despite this pressure, Germany’s constitutional system makes it difficult to unseat a chancellor.
The article outlines two possible routes. First, Merz could resign voluntarily. Such a resignation would not necessarily end the governing coalition, as demonstrated in 1974 when Willy Brandt stepped down and was replaced by fellow Social Democrat Helmut Schmidt after the coalition parties agreed to continue governing. A successor must receive an absolute majority of all Bundestag members, known as the “chancellor majority.” The article says Merz currently appears determined to remain in office.
The second option is a constructive vote of no confidence, in which parliament removes the sitting chancellor only by simultaneously electing a replacement. This occurred in 1982, when coalition partner the Free Democratic Party withdrew support from Schmidt and joined the CDU/CSU to elect Helmut Kohl. Such a scenario is considered highly unlikely for Merz because the CDU/CSU and center-left Social Democratic Party do not want to end their coalition, there is no clear alternative candidate, and conservative lawmakers are generally loyal to their leader.
The article concludes with an overview of Germany’s chancellors since 1949, including Merz, Olaf Scholz, Angela Merkel, Gerhard Schröder, Helmut Kohl, Helmut Schmidt, Willy Brandt, Kurt Georg Kiesinger, Ludwig Erhard, and Konrad Adenauer, highlighting their tenures and political legacies.
Entities: Friedrich Merz, Christian Democratic Union (CDU), Christian Social Union (CSU), Social Democratic Party (SPD), German Bundestag • Tone: analytical • Sentiment: neutral • Intent: inform
20-09-2026
Exit polls from two German state elections on Sunday indicate severe losses for Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s centre-right Christian Democratic Union (CDU). In the largely rural eastern state of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, the CDU is projected to receive just 5.5% of the vote, which would be its worst result there since the end of World War II. In Berlin, the party is projected to finish second with 20%, behind the Left Party at 24.5%, according to public broadcaster ARD’s exit poll.
The Alternative for Germany (AfD) made significant gains in the elections, adding to concerns about the strength of the far right in Germany’s eastern states. The results came two weeks after the AfD narrowly missed securing an absolute majority in Saxony-Anhalt, its strongest opportunity yet to form Germany’s first far-right regional government since 1945.
The elections further weakened Merz, who became chancellor 16 months ago after promising to revive Germany’s stagnant economy. His inability to improve the national mood and a sharp decline in his personal popularity have intensified criticism within the CDU. Although no senior ally has openly called for his resignation, party members have warned against allowing divisive leadership debates to dominate the party.
Merz reportedly anticipated a difficult post-election period and canceled a planned trip to New York for the UN General Assembly. Despite the setbacks, he said he intended to remain CDU leader and chancellor until the end of his term. He defended his approach by saying that reforms were necessary and that he was accepting responsibility to move Germany forward.
Entities: Friedrich Merz, Christian Democratic Union (CDU), Alternative for Germany (AfD), The Left Party, Germany • Tone: analytical • Sentiment: negative • Intent: inform
20-09-2026
Germans are voting in state elections in Berlin and Mecklenburg–Western Pomerania, contests that could intensify pressure on Chancellor Friedrich Merz and his governing Christian Democratic Union (CDU). The elections follow a strong performance by the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) in Saxony-Anhalt earlier in September, raising the possibility of further gains for the party.
In Berlin, the CDU is facing a close contest with Die Linke. The left-wing party has particularly strong support among younger voters and is campaigning on measures to address the city’s housing crisis. In Mecklenburg–Western Pomerania, the main race is between the governing Social Democratic Party (SPD) and the AfD. The AfD is leading in recent polls, but it faces a significant challenge from SPD minister-president Manuela Schwesig, who has held the position since 2017. The CDU is also at risk of failing to clear the 5% threshold needed to remain in the state parliament.
Polling suggests Die Linke has edged ahead of the CDU in Berlin, while the AfD leads the SPD in Mecklenburg–Western Pomerania. Any significant gains by either the far right or far left could further weaken Merz, who became chancellor in May 2025 and has experienced declining popularity.
Voters interviewed by AFP expressed dissatisfaction with the political status quo. Berlin resident Moritz Lembke-Oezer said he feared an AfD victory but intended to vote for Die Linke to punish the CDU and support its housing proposals. In Schwerin, pensioner Peter Sommer said he favored an AfD victory so the party would be forced to demonstrate whether it could govern effectively. The results could therefore shape both regional politics and perceptions of Merz’s national leadership.
Entities: Friedrich Merz, Christian Democratic Union (CDU), Alternative for Germany (AfD), Die Linke, Social Democratic Party (SPD) • Tone: analytical • Sentiment: negative • Intent: inform
20-09-2026
France 24 reports that voters in Germany took part in state elections in Berlin and Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania on 20 September 2026. According to the exit polls cited in the report, the results represented a major setback for Chancellor Friedrich Merz and his Christian Democratic Union (CDU). The headline characterizes the outcome as a “disaster” for the party, while the article describes the CDU’s losses as dramatic.
The report presents the elections as an important test of support for Merz’s government and for Germany’s established political parties at the regional level. It also places the vote within the broader context of the German far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD), which was identified among the article’s key topics and in related coverage as seeking further breakthroughs in regional politics. However, the supplied text does not provide specific vote shares, seat totals, turnout figures, or confirmed final results. It relies on exit-poll assessments and does not explain how the CDU performed in either state individually.
The article says that further details were provided by France 24’s Berlin correspondent, Jörg Taszman. Because the available content is brief and primarily consists of a video-news introduction, it offers limited analysis of the causes of the CDU’s apparent losses or the possible consequences for Merz. It does, however, frame the elections as potentially significant for the chancellor’s political position, especially amid concerns about the strength of the AfD and the future direction of German democracy. The report’s overall emphasis is on the scale of the setback and its national political implications, while leaving detailed interpretation and confirmed results to subsequent coverage.
Entities: Germany, Berlin, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Friedrich Merz, Christian Democratic Union (CDU) • Tone: urgent • Sentiment: negative • Intent: inform
20-09-2026
France 24 reports that regional elections are taking place in Berlin and the predominantly rural German state of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. The contests are being closely watched because they are viewed as an important political test for Friedrich Merz, Germany’s centre-right chancellor. The article focuses on whether a poor performance by Merz’s political camp could trigger a leadership crisis serious enough to force him to resign.
According to the report, Merz has already taken steps to manage the possible consequences of the elections. He has scheduled a crisis meeting and chosen to miss this week’s United Nations General Assembly in order to remain in Germany and address the domestic political fallout. These decisions suggest that the elections could have significant implications for the stability and authority of his government.
The report places the elections within a broader debate about the strength of Germany’s centre-right and the continuing rise of the far-right Alternative for Germany, or AfD. The party is identified as a key focus of the regional contests and of wider concerns about the state of German democracy. Related France 24 coverage indicates that the AfD is seeking breakthroughs in additional regions, although this article does not provide election results or confirm whether the party has gained power.
The central question is therefore prospective rather than settled: could disappointing regional results undermine Merz’s position sufficiently to make his resignation unavoidable? The piece presents this as a matter for political analysis rather than reporting an actual decision to step down. It includes analysis by Yann Wernert, a senior policy fellow at the Jacques Delors Centre in Berlin, with video by Alison Sargent.
Entities: Friedrich Merz, Germany, Berlin, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, German regional elections • Tone: analytical • Sentiment: neutral • Intent: analyze
20-09-2026
A France 24 Spotlight report examines the political setback suffered by German Chancellor Friedrich Merz in two important regional elections held on September 20, 2026. In Berlin, exit polls indicated that the left-wing Die Linke had moved ahead of Merz’s Christian Democratic Union (CDU). In Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) was projected to finish first, narrowly ahead of the Social Democrats.
The results represent a serious warning for Merz after only 16 months in office. They suggest that his governing party is facing pressure from both the political left and the far right, depending on the region. The CDU’s poor performance is especially significant because it raises questions about public support for Merz’s government and its reform agenda.
Merz acknowledged the severity of the outcome, describing the CDU’s performance as a “disaster.” Despite the disappointing results, he said he would continue pursuing his political program and vowed to “push on despite setbacks.” The report therefore presents a contrast between electoral weakness and governmental determination: voters delivered a clear rebuke, while the chancellor sought to project resilience and maintain momentum.
The segment, produced for France 24’s Spotlight program, focuses on the immediate political implications of the regional elections rather than providing a detailed analysis of policy issues or coalition dynamics. Its central message is that Merz’s government has received an early and serious warning, but that the chancellor does not intend to abandon his reform plans. The report was written by Clémence Waller, Théophile Vareille and Daniel Whittington, with video by Whittington, Vareille and Waller.
Entities: Germany, Friedrich Merz, Christian Democratic Union (CDU), Die Linke, Alternative for Germany (AfD) • Tone: analytical • Sentiment: negative • Intent: inform
20-09-2026
The France 24 report examines whether Germany’s far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party can achieve another electoral breakthrough in two eastern states. The article was published on 20 September 2026, shortly after the AfD won its first major regional election in Germany. It focuses on voting in Berlin, the national capital, and Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, a largely rural northeastern state. Polls in both regions had opened when the report was published.
The article presents the elections as an important test of the AfD’s growing influence in Germany and of the strength of the country’s democratic mainstream parties. It specifically highlights the party’s attempt to build on its recent regional victory and asks whether that success can be repeated in two additional states. The report also places the elections within the broader national political context by mentioning Chancellor Friedrich Merz and his support for Stefan Evers, the candidate leading Merz’s party’s campaign in Berlin.
France 24 correspondent Jörg Taszman provides the report from Berlin. However, the supplied text contains only the introduction to the video report and does not include polling figures, campaign reactions, voter interviews, or the final election results. Consequently, it establishes the political stakes and identifies the locations and major figures involved, but it does not state whether the AfD ultimately won either election. The central issue is therefore the potential expansion of the far right’s regional power in Germany, particularly in the country’s eastern states.
Entities: Alternative for Germany (AfD), Germany, Berlin, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Jörg Taszman • Tone: analytical • Sentiment: neutral • Intent: inform
20-09-2026
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz says he will remain in office and continue pursuing difficult economic reforms despite a major electoral setback for his center-right Christian Democratic Union (CDU). Exit polls showed the CDU receiving only 5% in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, its worst result in any German state since World War II. In Berlin, the party was projected to finish second with 20%, behind the Left party at 24.5%. The results followed an earlier defeat in Saxony-Anhalt, where the far-right, anti-migration and Russia-friendly Alternative for Germany (AfD) made substantial gains and came close to becoming the strongest political force in the state.
Merz acknowledged that the CDU’s performance was a “disaster,” but rejected calls to retreat from his government’s reform program. He argued that Germany’s stagnant economy and broader political difficulties make potentially unpopular reforms more urgent. He pledged to continue with “backbone, steadfastness and patience.”
The losses have further weakened Merz, who became chancellor 16 months ago after promising to revive an economy that has barely grown for years. His government has failed to improve the country’s pessimistic national mood, and Merz himself has become increasingly unpopular. Members of his own party have reportedly discussed replacing him, although no senior allies have publicly demanded his resignation and others have warned against internal leadership debates.
The AfD’s success has also unsettled Germans who believed the country had developed strong defenses against nationalism and racial superiority because of its confrontation with its Nazi past. Anticipating political pressure after the elections, Merz canceled a planned trip to New York for the U.N. General Assembly. Nevertheless, he has repeatedly insisted that he intends to complete his term as chancellor.
Entities: Friedrich Merz, Christian Democratic Union (CDU), Alternative for Germany (AfD), Germany, Berlin • Tone: analytical • Sentiment: negative • Intent: inform
20-09-2026
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s Christian Democratic Union (CDU) suffered its worst result in a state election since 1949, according to exit-poll projections from Germany’s public broadcaster. In the northeastern state of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, the right-wing Alternative for Germany (AfD) was projected to finish first with 38% of the vote, while the CDU received only 5%. The result marked the first time in 75 years that the CDU had remained in single digits in a state election.
The setback extended beyond the rural northeast. In Berlin, the far-left Die Linke led with 26%, followed by the CDU and the Greens. Although the AfD did not lead in the capital, it was projected to win 13.5%—a significant result in a city traditionally associated with the political left. Reactions at a CDU election-watch gathering reportedly included groans as the results were announced.
Merz called the outcome a “disaster” but said he would remain in office and continue pursuing reforms aimed at addressing Germany’s weak economy and political divisions. AfD co-leader Alice Weidel celebrated the results, claiming her party had become Germany’s “new people’s party” and arguing that voters wanted a change in policy. She also said Merz was a “strongly damaged” leader who could not continue effectively as chancellor.
The results came two weeks after the AfD won 44% in Saxony-Anhalt, another former East German state. The party has capitalized on anger over economic inequality and high levels of undocumented immigration, with much of its support concentrated in the poorer and less-developed former East.
Despite leading in multiple states, the AfD is unlikely to govern because mainstream parties have refused to form coalitions with it under post-Nazi Germany’s political norms. Weidel suggested the party could eventually govern as a minority administration, but the article notes that such an outcome is uncertain and that German politics is likely to remain deeply divided.
Entities: Friedrich Merz, Christian Democratic Union (CDU), Alternative for Germany (AfD), Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Berlin • Tone: negative • Sentiment: negative • Intent: inform
20-09-2026
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has suffered a major political setback after his centre-right Christian Democratic Union (CDU) performed poorly in two state elections. The most damaging result came in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, where projections by public broadcaster ARD put the CDU at just 4.9 per cent—its weakest performance in any German state since World War II. If confirmed by the final count, the result would mark the first time the CDU failed to win seats in a state legislature anywhere in Germany.
The elections also produced significant gains for the anti-migration and Russia-friendly Alternative for Germany (AfD), increasing pressure on Merz and his government. The article characterizes the result as a “disaster” for the chancellor, whose conservatives risk losing further ground amid public dissatisfaction and political competition from the far right. The CDU’s possible failure to clear Germany’s 5 per cent threshold in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania would carry substantial symbolic and political importance, even though the projections were based on exit polls and partial vote counts.
Despite the bruising defeats, Merz vowed to continue pursuing reforms intended to address the challenges facing Europe’s largest economy. Those measures could prove politically painful, particularly as his party confronts declining support and the AfD’s continued expansion. The election results therefore represent both an immediate setback for Merz’s leadership and a broader warning about the difficulties of implementing economic reforms while anti-establishment and anti-migration forces gain momentum.
Entities: Friedrich Merz, Germany, Christian Democratic Union (CDU), Alternative for Germany (AfD), Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania • Tone: analytical • Sentiment: negative • Intent: inform
20-09-2026
The Left Party won Berlin’s state election on Sept 20, 2026, securing 25.3 per cent of the vote and displacing Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s conservative Christian Democrats from the mayor’s office. The party’s result was approximately double its previous score and could make Elif Eralp the first Left Party mayor of Berlin. Eralp, the 45-year-old daughter of Turkish immigrants, made the city’s housing affordability crisis the centrepiece of her campaign. She pledged to implement a 2021 referendum mandate supporting the nationalisation of large private housing associations and to curb housing speculation. The policy could transfer about 220,000 homes into state ownership, but its feasibility remains uncertain. Social Democratic Party general secretary Tim Kluessendorf estimated the cost at €20 billion, while a separate poll found that only 37 per cent of respondents supported nationalisation, despite the 58 per cent backing recorded in the 2021 referendum. The election was also notable for the continued rise of the far-right Alternative for Germany, which won 16 per cent in Berlin and placed first in the Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania election held the same day. The AfD’s advances, along with economic difficulties and uncertainty across Germany, contributed to another setback for mainstream parties. Eralp may need to form a coalition with the SPD and the Greens, both of which indicated some openness to joining her government. However, Greens leader Felix Banaszak said the Left Party must clearly address anti-Semitism allegations involving parts of its Berlin organisation before cooperation can proceed. The Left Party rejects claims of systematic anti-Semitism and says it opposes all forms of group-focused hostility, including racism and sexism.
Entities: Left Party, Elif Eralp, Berlin, Berlin state election, Friedrich Merz • Tone: analytical • Sentiment: neutral • Intent: inform
20-09-2026
German voters are set to vote in state elections in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania and Berlin, contests expected to increase pressure on Chancellor Friedrich Merz and his governing Christian Democratic Union (CDU). The elections follow a major setback in Saxony-Anhalt on September 6, where the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) came close to securing an absolute majority. The result has unsettled Germany and attracted wider European attention because the AfD views regional victories as steps toward winning the 2029 federal election.
The AfD has grown from a fringe eurosceptic party into Germany’s most popular political force. It advocates tougher deportation measures, restoring energy ties with Russia and leaving the euro. Although polling suggests it will not win either of the upcoming state elections, the party is expected to reinforce its recent gains and intensify debate over the established parties’ refusal to form coalitions with it—the so-called “firewall” strategy.
Merz’s personal approval ratings have fallen as low as 14 percent. He has struggled to deliver the economic revival promised when he was elected, while unpopular pension, tax and healthcare reforms, along with repeated communication mistakes, have weakened public support. CDU leaders continue to back him because replacing him would be constitutionally difficult and would not solve Germany’s underlying economic problems.
In Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, the CDU risks its worst-ever result and could fail to enter the state parliament. The centre-left Social Democrats, led by popular premier Manuela Schwesig, are narrowly ahead of the AfD in recent polling. Rising fuel prices have made economic relief a central issue, prompting Merz to announce tax cuts on gas and diesel.
In Berlin, housing affordability dominates the campaign. The Left Party has moved ahead of the CDU, while the AfD has risen to third place, illustrating its growing support even in the liberal capital.
Entities: Friedrich Merz, Christian Democratic Union (CDU), Alternative for Germany (AfD), Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Berlin • Tone: analytical • Sentiment: negative • Intent: inform
