AfD leads again. “Catastrophe” for the CDU in local elections — Merz: I’m not going anywhere

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has said he will remain in office despite poor results that exit polls project for his party, the CDU, in two local elections.

In the northeastern state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, the CDU is projected to barely secure representation in the regional parliament, while the AfD is expected to win the largest share of votes. Merz described his party’s result as a “catastrophe.”

According to projections by public broadcaster ZDF, the AfD is expected to take around 38% of the vote in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, with the SPD on about 36%. The AfD’s chances of leading the regional government remain limited, however, as the other parties have refused to cooperate with it.

In Berlin too, the CDU is expected to lose first place. Early projections put the CDU at around 20%, with Die Linke at nearly 26%.

The results add to the pressure on Merz, just two weeks after the CDU suffered another heavy defeat in the state of Saxony-Anhalt, where the AfD made significant gains.

Despite the results, Merz said his government would press ahead with its package of economic, fiscal and social reforms. “The reforms must be made,” the chancellor said, stressing that he would continue to take responsibility for leading the country.

The final results of the Berlin and Mecklenburg-Vorpommern elections are expected in the coming hours.