Germany: Germany's right-wing Alternative for Germany (AfD) party surged in Sunday's state election in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, while Chancellor Friedrich Merz's Christian Democratic Union (CDU) suffered its worst post-World War II defeat, local media reported.
According to Anadolu Agency, exit polls from public broadcaster ARD indicated that the AfD emerged victorious with 37.9% to 38.3% of the votes, more than doubling its previous 16.7% share in 2021. The Social Democratic Party (SPD), led by State Premier Manuela Schwesig, received 35.4% to 35.7%, marking a decline from 39.6% in 2021. Meanwhile, the CDU saw a significant drop to 4.9%-5.0% from 13.3% in 2021, marking its worst result in a state election in postwar history.
The Left Party's share dropped to 6%-7.5% from 9.9% in 2021, while the Greens were projected at 5.5%, down from 6.3% in the previous election. This leaves their representation in the state legislature uncertain due to the 5% threshold. The left-wing populist Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance (BSW) was also hovering around the electoral threshold at 4.9%.
Lead AfD candidate Enrico Schult expressed excitement over the party's performance, declaring the AfD's intention to maintain a lasting presence in the region. 'This is the promise we all made. Sooner or later, we will change this state. The AfD is here to stay. And we will also govern, dear friends,' Schult stated.
Despite the AfD's victory, SPD's Manuela Schwesig reaffirmed her commitment to remain in office, stating that the majority of voters supported democratic parties. She emphasized her readiness to form a stable, democratic government, noting that 60% of citizens want her to continue her work.
CDU state chairman Daniel Peters, speaking in Schwerin, expressed determination to maintain the party's influence in the state legislature. He praised campaigners for their efforts under challenging conditions and emphasized the CDU's crucial role in the state's future. 'This state needs the CDU,' he told supporters, adding, 'We are fighting for our life here, and that's why this is going to be a very long election night.'