Germany after the eastern elections: Merz has few options left

Wednesday, Sep 23, 2026

Denik Referendum

German elections show CDU losses; AfD gains ground despite Merz’s efforts, signaling ongoing political shifts.

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[This is an automatically generated summary, for reference only]

The article discusses the impact of recent regional elections on the standing of CDU leader Friedrich Merz. Despite initial optimism that he could withstand challenges, his party lost ground in Saxony-Anhalt, Berlin, and Mecklenburg-Vorpommern; AfD won decisively in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. Merz acknowledged these losses as significant setbacks, calling them a “catastrophe” and vowing to push for reforms. In Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, the nationalist populist AfD secured 38.2% of the vote. While AfD also performed well in Saxony-Anhalt, Berlin saw strong showings from Die Linke (25.7%), though CDU, SPD, and The Greens are expected to form a governing coalition there. Furthermore, the far-right BSW failed to cross the five percent threshold nationwide. Despite these results, the political landscape suggests that despite AfD’s gains, the overall trend in Germany may remain unchanged. Merz faces challenges in delivering visible improvements for voters, as the rise of AfD is linked to complex issues like cultural wars and economic concerns. Political analysts suggest that even if current trends continue, there are contingency plans within AfD should the existing grand coalition fail before the 2029 elections. The next major test for Germany’s political direction will be in regional elections scheduled for April of next year.

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