Elections in two German states could weaken Merz’s position — The Guardian
In Germany, voters in Berlin and the state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern are voting in regional elections, the outcome of which could affect the political standing of Chancellor Friedrich Merz. Around 2.5 million people are eligible to vote in Berlin, and nearly 1.3 million more in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. Polling stations are open on Sunday from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. local time.
As The Guardian reports, the vote is taking place two weeks after regional elections in Saxony-Anhalt, where the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD), described by the newspaper as anti-immigration and pro-Kremlin, achieved its best result in state elections.
Pressure on the CDU
According to the newspaper’s assessment, the AfD may once again take away some votes from Merz’s conservative Christian Democratic Union (CDU). A poor result for the CDU could intensify discussions about the future of the chancellor, who has been in office for 16 months, and even trigger talk of his replacement or early elections. At the same time, an early vote is currently considered unlikely.
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Merz rejected calls to resign and said he intends to continue implementing a package of economic and social changes. According to The Guardian, his personal approval rating has fallen to 10%. The chancellor also cancelled a planned speech at the UN General Assembly in New York because his presence in Berlin is needed after the elections.
The race in Berlin and Mecklenburg-Vorpommern
In Berlin, the CDU, which currently leads the state government, is competing with the left-wing party Die Linke for first place. According to polls, the AfD is in third or fourth place. The CDU’s candidate is Berlin’s chief financial official, Stefan Evers, after incumbent mayor Kai Wegner declined to run for re-election in July.
In Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, the AfD and the Social Democratic Party are almost tied, according to polls. The CDU risks receiving a single-digit percentage of the vote for the first time in 75 years. If the party fails to clear the 5% threshold and enter the state parliament, it would be an unprecedented case in Germany’s post-war history.
