Far-right Afd Poised for Victory in Key German State Elections
WHO:
CNN - Germany’s far-right AfD party is involved in the elections.
CNN - Chancellor Friedrich Merz is the leader of the governing party, CDU.
NY Post - Friedrich Merz took power 16 months ago.
WHAT:
politico.eu - The AfD won 38% in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, just two weeks after achieving its best result in Saxony-Anhalt on September 6.
politico.eu - The CDU received 5.5% of the vote in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, marking the worst outcome for the party in any regional or national election since the end of World War II.
politico.eu - Die Linke is projected to finish first in Berlin with 24.5%, ahead of the CDU at 20%.
CNN - The AfD won 38% in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, just two weeks after achieving its best result in Saxony-Anhalt.
politico.eu - The CDU received 5.5% of the vote in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, marking the worst outcome for the party in any regional or national election since the end of World War II.
politico.eu - Die Linke is projected to finish first in Berlin with 24.5%, ahead of the CDU at 20%.
CNN - The AfD is projected to win the north-eastern state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern with 38%.
CNN - The CDU is projected to receive only 5%, which is barely enough for representation.
CNN - The left-wing Die Linke party leads in Berlin with 26%, followed by the CDU and the Greens.
WHERE:
CNN - The elections are taking place in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern and Berlin, Germany.
WHEN:
CNN - The elections are scheduled for Sunday.
WHY:
politico.eu - Friedrich Merz described the election results in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania as a "disaster" for the CDU, stating, "The CDU fought hard, but in the end, it was crushed in the escalating confrontation between the SPD and the AfD."
CNN - The governing party, CDU, is expected to suffer its worst-ever state-level result.
HOW:
politico.eu - Merz has staked his chancellorship on a reform agenda that includes raising the retirement age, cutting some health-insurance benefits, and making it harder for workers to take sick leave.
CNN - The results are based on exit polls from Germany’s public broadcaster.
(UPDATED September 21, 2026 03:59 UTC)
In a significant electoral shift, the AfD has secured 38% of the vote in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, following their strong performance in Saxony-Anhalt just two weeks prior. Meanwhile, the CDU faced a historic setback, garnering only 5.5% in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, marking their worst result in any election since World War II. In Berlin, Die Linke is projected to lead with 24.5%, surpassing the CDU, which is expected to finish with 20%.
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(UPDATED September 20, 2026 18:55 UTC)
The AfD has secured 38% of the vote in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, just two weeks after their strong performance in Saxony-Anhalt, while the CDU faced a historic low of 5.5%, marking their worst result in any election since World War II. Friedrich Merz, the CDU leader, called the outcome a "disaster," emphasizing the party's struggles in the fierce competition against the SPD and the AfD. Merz is pushing a reform agenda that includes raising the retirement age, cutting certain health-insurance benefits, and making it more difficult for workers to take sick leave, as he stakes his chancellorship on these changes.
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(UPDATED September 20, 2026 16:57 UTC)
In Germany, the far-right AfD party is projected to win the north-eastern state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern with thirty-eight percent of the vote, while Chancellor Friedrich Merz's governing CDU party is expected to receive only five percent, which may not be enough for representation. Meanwhile, in Berlin, the left-wing Die Linke party is leading with twenty-six percent, followed closely by the CDU and the Greens. These elections are scheduled for Sunday, and the CDU is anticipated to face its worst-ever state-level result based on exit polls from Germany’s public broadcaster.