Merz’s party hits new low in regional election ‘disaster’
The chancellor’s CDU is on course for its worst-ever state showing in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania and trails the Left in Berlin | German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has described his Christian Democratic Union’s (CDU) performance in Sunday’s state election in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania as a “disaster,” after the party suffered its worst-ever result in a state election. The CDU fared better in Berlin, but its result there still appeared to dash its hopes of leading the next government. ● The CDU received just 4.9% of the vote, according to the preliminary official result, its worst showing in a state election since the founding of the Federal Republic in 1949. The result leaves the party below the 5% threshold required to enter the regional parliament. ● The Alternative for Germany (AfD) won the election with 38.2%, ahead of the ruling Social Democrats (SPD) at 35.5%. Merz’s party fared better in Berlin but still trailed the Left, which led with 25.7%. The CDU came second with 18.8%, followed by the AfD at 16.3%.
■ German chancellor refuses to leave office after ‘disastrous’ election loss (The Cradle)



