- CDU recorded its worst result in its 81-year history in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, taking just 4.9% of the vote and falling short of the 5% threshold, failing to enter a state parliament for the first time.
- The AfD won Mecklenburg-Vorpommern with 38.2%, more than doubling its 16.7% share from five years ago.
- In Berlin, The Left scored a clear victory with a record 25.7% of the vote, well ahead of the CDU on 18.8%, while the AfD finished third with 16.3%, followed by the Greens on 14.3% and the SPD on 12.1%, their worst-ever result in a Berlin state election.
- The result is a nightmare scenario for Merz, whose political future has been the source of intense speculation as his approval ratings have plummeted in recent months.
- The AfD will hold 32 seats in the new 71-seat parliament, compared with 29 for the SPD and five each for The Left and the Greens.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz faced a significant political setback as his Christian Democratic Union (CDU) suffered historic losses in the recent state elections. In Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, the CDU recorded its worst result in 81 years, garnering only 4.9% of the vote and failing to meet the 5% threshold to enter the state parliament for the first time.12
The Alternative for Germany (AfD) emerged victorious with 38.2%, more than doubling its 16.7% share from five years ago. The Social Democrats (SPD) followed closely with 35.5%, while The Left secured 6.5% and the Greens 5.7%, maintaining their parliamentary presence.345
In Berlin, The Left achieved a record victory with 25.7%, significantly ahead of the CDU's 18.8%. The AfD finished third with 16.3%, while the SPD recorded its worst-ever result at 12.1%.
Merz described the results as a “disaster” but remains committed to his government's unpopular economic reforms, despite growing speculation about his political future as approval ratings continue to decline.6
These elections follow a recent landslide victory for the AfD in Saxony-Anhalt, further complicating Merz's leadership challenges.
“The CDU's 4.9% result in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern marks its worst ever and the first time it failed to enter a state parliament. In Berlin, The Left's 25.7% was a record, while the SPD's 12.1% was its worst-ever state result.”
