Exit polls from two German state elections held Sunday indicate a severe setback for Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s party.
In Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, a largely rural state in Germany’s former communist east, the centre-right Christian Democratic Union (CDU) is projected to receive 5.5% of the vote. That would be its worst result in the state since the Second World War.
In Berlin, the CDU is expected to finish second with 20% of the vote, behind The Left Party at 24.5%, according to an exit poll from public broadcaster ARD.
The Alternative for Germany (AfD) also recorded significant gains. The elections took place two weeks after the party came just short of an outright majority in Saxony-Anhalt, its strongest result since the war and its best opportunity yet to form Germany’s first far-right regional government since 1945.
Merz, 70, took over as chancellor 16 months ago with promises to revive Germany’s stalled economy. However, he has struggled to improve the country’s subdued mood, and his personal popularity has declined sharply.
The AfD’s performance in Saxony-Anhalt has further weakened Merz’s standing and renewed calls within his party for him to step down. No senior allies have publicly demanded his resignation, but several have warned against opening a divisive internal leadership debate.
The results also appear to have prompted Merz to cancel his planned trip to New York next week for the United Nations General Assembly.
Speaking after the release of the exit polls, Merz said he intended to remain CDU leader and chancellor until the end of his term.
“The reforms have to come,” Merz said. “I am taking on this responsibility because I want to move our country forward.”
