The exit polls released on Sunday after the state elections in Berlin and Mecklenburg‑Vorpommern showed the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) lagging far behind its rivals. Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who has led the party for 16 months, described the outcome as a "disaster" but insisted he will not step down, pledging to continue driving forward his government's reform agenda.
In the north‑eastern state of Mecklenburg‑Vorpommern, the CDU was projected to just scrape into the state parliament while the Alternative for Germany (AfD) appeared set to win the highest share of the vote, around 38 per cent according to public broadcaster ZDF. The centre‑left SPD was expected to follow with roughly 36 per cent, leaving the CDU far behind its challengers.
In Berlin, the CDU’s projected vote share was about 20 per cent, trailing Die Linke which was estimated at nearly 26 per cent. The results were displayed at the CDU’s election‑night gathering in the capital, prompting a subdued response rather than celebration.
The poor showing adds to mounting pressure on Merz, whose approval ratings have fallen and whose tenure has been the subject of speculation about a possible mid‑term chancellor swap. Nevertheless, eight state premiers have publicly backed him, and Burkard Dregger, a CDU senator from Berlin, told the BBC that continuity was essential, arguing that the electorate was impatient and that Merz deserved the full four‑year term he was elected to serve.
Merz used the occasion to reaffirm his commitment to a package of economic, tax and welfare reforms, calling them the "antidote to the authoritarian poison" he believes is threatening society. While his right‑leaning stance on issues such as immigration has failed to stem the rise of the AfD and has alienated voters on the left, he insisted the reforms must proceed to move Germany forward.
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Category: International
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