Germany's Berlin and Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania vote tests pressure on Merz after far-right gains

Voters in Berlin and Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania are heading to the polls on Sunday in a regional election seen as an early test of Chancellor Friedrich Merz. The vote comes after a recent setback for his Christian Democratic Union, which was defeated by the far-right Alternative for Germany in Saxony-Anhalt two weeks ago. It also comes as Merz faces falling approval ratings and growing questions inside his own party.

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Polling stations opened at 8am local time and are due to close at 6pm. About 2.5 million people are eligible to vote in Berlin, while nearly 1.3 million can vote in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. Merz has scheduled a crisis meeting of the CDU, cleared his calendar and skipped this week's United Nations General Assembly meeting in New York to focus on the possible political fallout.

In Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, the main contest is between the Social Democratic Party's state premier, Manuela Schwesig, and the AfD's lead candidate, former radio presenter Leif-Erik Holm. Public broadcaster ZDF reported the AfD at 36 percent and the SPD at 37 percent, while the CDU was on 6 percent, close to the 5 percent threshold needed to enter the state parliament. In Berlin, the CDU is in a tight race with the far-left Die Linke, which has campaigned on measures to address the city's housing crisis.

The results matter because they come at a moment of political strain for Merz and his coalition with the SPD. After just 16 months in power, his approval rating has fallen to about 14 percent, according to the latest polls cited in the report. That weakness has raised doubts among some party members about whether he can continue to lead while trying to push through promised economic and social welfare reforms.

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The elections also carry wider significance for Germany's political landscape. The AfD's recent gains have increased pressure on mainstream parties and sharpened debate over how to respond to voters drawn to anti-establishment messages. In Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, the CDU is not the central force in the main race, but its low polling level could still be read as a sign of broader weakness for Merz's party.

What remains unclear is whether the CDU can avoid another damaging result, particularly in Berlin, and whether the AfD can turn its recent momentum into further gains. The final outcome will also show whether the SPD can hold its ground in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania and whether Die Linke can convert its support in the capital into a stronger result. The first official indications are expected after polls close later on Sunday.

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