Date: September 20, 2026
Reporter: Emilly Jordan
BERLIN — German Chancellor Friedrich Merz faced renewed political pressure on Sunday after voters in two states went to the polls in elections closely watched for signs of changing support for his conservative government and the growing influence of the Alternative for Germany (AfD).
The elections in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania and Berlin followed a major breakthrough for the AfD in Saxony-Anhalt earlier this month, where the party came close to securing an outright majority. The latest votes have attracted national attention because of their potential implications for Merz's governing coalition and for Germany's continuing debate over whether mainstream parties should maintain their refusal to cooperate with the AfD.
By Sunday evening, projections showed the AfD finishing first in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania with about 38.3% of the vote, ahead of the centre-left Social Democrats (SPD) at 35.4%. Merz's Christian Democratic Union (CDU), meanwhile, was projected at just 4.9%, below the 5% threshold required to enter the state parliament. The result represented the CDU's worst state-election performance since the founding of postwar Germany, according to Reuters.
Merz described the result as a “disaster” but said he intended to remain in office and continue pursuing his government's reform programme. His comments came amid speculation before the election that another poor performance for the CDU could increase internal pressure on his leadership.
The Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania election was particularly significant because the state has traditionally been governed by the SPD, whose popular premier, Manuela Schwesig, made criticism of both the AfD and the federal government's policies central to her campaign.
Schwesig also highlighted opposition among some voters to Germany's financial and military support for Ukraine. She said many people in the state wanted Russian gas supplies to return through the Nord Stream infrastructure, which previously carried Russian gas to Germany through the Baltic Sea before the pipelines were damaged in explosions in 2022.
The AfD has made opposition to Germany's support for Ukraine and calls for a different approach to relations with Russia part of its broader political message. The party also advocates tougher immigration policies and has called for changes to Germany's relationship with the European Union and the euro.
In Berlin, the political picture was different. The Left Party emerged as the strongest party in projections, while the CDU suffered a decline and the AfD increased its support. The results marked a significant shift in the capital's political landscape, where the CDU currently governs in coalition with the SPD.
The Berlin result also highlighted the broader fragmentation of German politics. The AfD's support has expanded beyond some of its traditional strongholds in eastern Germany, while the Left Party has also strengthened its position in the capital. The CDU's declining support has complicated the political calculations facing Merz and his party.
The elections have renewed discussion about Germany's so-called “firewall” against the AfD. Germany's major mainstream parties have generally refused to enter coalition agreements with the party, meaning that even strong electoral performances do not automatically translate into participation in state governments. The AfD's continued gains have nevertheless raised questions about how long the other parties can maintain that approach without addressing the growing share of voters supporting it.
Merz's political difficulties extend beyond the regional elections. He was elected chancellor last year promising to revive Germany's sluggish economy through reforms, but his government has faced criticism over pension, tax and healthcare measures as well as rising energy and housing costs.
The chancellor has argued that Germany needs structural reforms to restore economic growth and strengthen its position in Europe. He has rejected calls to link his political future directly to individual state election results and has said he intends to serve the full four-year parliamentary term.
Before Sunday's voting, Merz's CDU and its Bavarian sister party, the CSU, were polling nationally well below their result in last year's federal election and behind the AfD in several surveys. A September 15 Reuters report said the pressure had already become serious enough for Merz to cancel a planned trip to New York for the United Nations General Assembly so he could remain in Berlin.
The chancellor has nevertheless continued to defend his reform agenda. He recently announced measures intended to reduce the impact of high fuel prices on motorists and has argued that economic reforms require persistence rather than a change of direction after individual electoral setbacks.
Economic concerns were prominent during the Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania campaign. Voters interviewed by Reuters cited high living costs, wages, energy prices and concerns about government spending. One voter in Schwerin said that people struggled to afford everyday necessities on local wages, while another criticized spending on foreign aid and called for greater attention to domestic needs.
The AfD's rise has also become an issue beyond Germany's borders. The party has transformed from a relatively small eurosceptic movement into one of the country's strongest political forces in just over a decade. Its performance in Saxony-Anhalt earlier in September intensified attention across Europe, particularly because the party has identified the 2029 federal election as an important future target.
The latest state-election results do not by themselves determine the future of the German federal government. However, they provide an important indication of the political environment in which Merz's coalition must operate. The chancellor now faces the challenge of advancing his economic and social reforms while responding to voter concerns over living costs and the continued growth of the AfD.
Merz said after the Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania result that he would continue with his reform programme. The election results, meanwhile, have given the AfD another strong showing at the state level and placed further attention on Germany's political divisions, the future of the CDU-led government and the continuing debate over the role of the AfD in German politics.