AfD Leads Again. “Catastrophe” for the CDU in Local Elections — Merz: I’m Not Going Anywhere

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

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

According to projections from public broadcaster ZDF, the AfD is expected to take around 38% of votes in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, with the SPD at around 36%. However, the AfD’s chances of leading the regional government remain limited, as 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 pressure on Merz, just two weeks after the CDU suffered another heavy defeat in the state of Saxony-Anhalt, where the AfD recorded considerable growth.

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

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