Germany's political landscape has been reshaped by the latest elections of the year. Within a few hours, the polls in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania and Berlin reveal two seemingly opposing trends: AfD gains ground in the Northeast, while in the capital, the left-wing Linke prevails. In between is the CDU's crisis, facing one of the most challenging days in its recent history.
The most significant blow for Chancellor Friedrich Merz's party comes from Schwerin. In Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, AfD secures, according to preliminary data, 38.2% of the votes. The SPD, led by Governor Manuela Schwesig, manages to narrow the gap, reaching 35.5%.
The situation is quite different for the CDU. The 4.9% is insufficient to surpass the threshold required to enter the regional parliament. For the party, this is a particularly significant moment, as it marks exclusion from a Land assembly.
The result immediately sparked a debate on national leadership. Merz did not hide the scale of the defeat, calling it a "disaster," but clarified that he has no intention of resigning. The chancellor claimed responsibility and announced his intention to continue leading the government, pointing to reforms as the path to follow in the coming months.
Meanwhile, AfD has called for a change of course. Alice Weidel urged Merz to draw political conclusions from the vote, while Tino Chrupalla once again criticized the party's isolation in coalition negotiations.
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While AfD celebrates in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, the evening in Berlin belongs to Linke. The party reaches 24.9% and takes the lead, ushering in a new political phase for the German capital.
At the center of the success is Elif Eralp. A lawyer dedicated to human rights and the daughter of Turkish refugees, Eralp built her political platform primarily on housing, rent costs, and integration issues.
After the election results, she spoke of a "historic" day, promising a change in the city's management.
Behind Linke is the CDU with 19.2%. AfD, meanwhile, reaches 15.8%, marking a significant increase compared to previous Berlin elections. The Greens follow with 14.3%, and the SPD with 12%.
The numbers now open the discussion on the future administration of the capital. A combination of Linke, Greens, and SPD would, based on the reported results, have the numerical possibility to form a majority, but it will be the negotiations between the parties that determine the actual composition of the next city government.
(Associated Medias) - All rights reserved