Germany’s AfD Wins Another State Election, Adding Pressure on Chancellor Merz, Exit Polls Show
Exit polls showed the AfD ahead with 37% as Merz’s CDU fell to 5.5%, deepening pressure on the chancellor’s leadership.
- On Sunday, the far-right AfD was projected to win the Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania state election with 37.0% of the vote, narrowly outpacing the governing Social Democrats at 35.5% while Chancellor Friedrich Merz's CDU slumped to 5.5%.
- Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who took office 16 months ago, faces mounting pressure as the AfD gains strength, building on their strong performance in the Saxony-Anhalt election two weeks ago that weakened his national standing.
- In Berlin's separate election held Sunday, the far-left Die Linke led with 24.5% of the vote, while Merz's conservatives followed at 20% and the AfD continued its trend of rising support, reaching 16%.
- Despite the AfD's projected victory in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, the party is unlikely to govern as other main parties have ruled out forming a coalition with the far-right group.
- Anticipating a difficult period, Merz canceled a planned trip to New York next week for the UN General Assembly, as allies warned against public 'personnel debates' regarding his leadership following the election results.
428 Articles
428 Articles
Chancellor Friedrich Merz may not survive his latest AfD drubbing
NEUBRANDENBURG, GERMANY - SEPTEMBER 18: Supporters of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) arrive for an election campaign rally ahead of state elections in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania on September 18, 2026 in Neubrandenburg, Germany. The AfD is vying for first place in a tight race against the incumbent German Social Democrats (SPD). Voters in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania will go the polls on September 20. (Photo by Sean Gallup/Getty …
Merz calls it a ‘disaster’ as pro-Russia AfD leads Mecklenburg–Western Pomerania, CDU crashes
Germany’s far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) has won its strongest-ever result in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, while also gaining ground in Berlin—deepening pressure on Chancellor Friedrich Merz after his CDU’s historically poor showing. Merz called the result a “disaster” but rejected speculation he would resign, insisting that his federal reform agenda must continue.
Merz decries 'disaster' as far-right AfD party set for big win in regional German elections
The far-right, Kremlin-friendly Alternative for Germany (AfD) party was projected to take first place in regional elections in Germany on Sept. 20, delivering a stinging defeat for Chancellor Friedrich Merz's center-right party.
Germany's far-right AfD leads state election
The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) took first place in state elections in northeastern Germany on Sunday, voting projections showed, delivering the worst result for Chancellor Friedrich Merz's mainstream conservative party since 1949. "It's a disaster," Merz said after exit polls were published, although he signalled he would fight on as chancellor and continue his reform agenda after speculation that a bad result could prompt him to re…
Germany’s far-right AfD wins another state election, piling pressure on Chancellor Merz
BERLIN - German Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s Christian Democratic Union (CDU) party is facing a dire set of results in state elections, exit polls show, and is set to be squeezed both by the surging far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) and parties on the left.
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