German voters are casting ballots in two state elections that threaten to increase political pressure on embattled Chancellor Friedrich Merz, according to Reuters. Polling stations opened at 8 a.m. local time and are scheduled to close at 6 p.m., with exit polls anticipated immediately afterward, as reported by The Guardian.
German Voters Head to Polls Amid Mounting Pressure on Chancellor Friedrich Merz
The elections take place in the city-state of Berlin and the northeastern coastal state of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, following an earlier vote in Saxony-Anhalt, according to Aljazeera. About 2.5 million people are eligible to cast ballots in Berlin, alongside nearly 1.3 million voters in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania.
Aftershocks From Saxony-Anhalt and Far-Right Gains
The regional votes follow a recent state election in Saxony-Anhalt, where the anti-immigration, pro-Kremlin Alternative for Germany (AfD) secured 44.4% of the vote, according to CNBC. Although the AfD fell just short of an absolute majority that would have allowed it to govern alone, the outcome marked a historic result for the party at the state level, according to The Guardian and CNBC.
While opinion polls indicated the AfD was unlikely to repeat its Saxony-Anhalt victory in Sunday’s contests, the party was expected to demonstrate continued momentum and underscore advances that have tested the traditional “firewall” strategy, under which mainstream parties refuse to form coalitions with it, according to Reuters.
Struggles for Chancellor Friedrich Merz and the CDU
Chancellor Friedrich Merz has faced a severe plunge in approval ratings, which recent polls put at approximately 14%, according to Reuters, while The Guardian reported personal approval ratings dropping as low as 10%. Elected on a platform of ambitious reforms to stimulate Germany’s economy, Merz has encountered voter skepticism regarding pension, tax, and healthcare changes, compounded by communication missteps, according to Reuters.
In response to the political pressure, Merz cancelled a planned speech at the United Nations General Assembly in New York, with a government official stating that his presence was required in Berlin, according to The Guardian. He also scheduled a crisis meeting of his Christian Democratic Union (CDU) party, according to Aljazeera. Merz has rejected calls to resign, stating that he and the government were elected for a four-year term and intends to lead the country through the difficult period, according to The Guardian.
Tight Races in Berlin and Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania
In Berlin, the ruling CDU faced a tight contest against the far-left Die Linke (The Left), which focused heavily on housing affordability and corporate landlords, according to Reuters and The Guardian. A final poll by Forschungsgruppe Wahlen put Die Linke at 22%, the CDU at 20%, the Greens at 15%, and the SPD at 12%, threatening the conservative hold on the mayor’s office while the AfD moved into third place, according to Reuters.
In Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, the electoral battle centered primarily between the Social Democratic Party’s (SPD) state premier, Manuela Schwesig, and the AfD’s lead candidate, former radio presenter Leif-Erik Holm, according to Aljazeera. Meanwhile, the CDU faced the prospect of its worst-ever regional result, with public broadcaster ZDF and polling indicating the party risked falling near or below the 5% threshold required to enter the state parliament, according to Reuters, The Guardian, and Aljazeera.
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