Victory for the far right in East Germany: Chancellor Merz's party out of parliament

The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party won a landslide victory in the state elections in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. Chancellor Friedrich Merz's CDU failed to pass the electoral threshold and remains outside parliament. Meanwhile, the left-wing party Die Linke won a majority of votes in Berlin. Chancellor Merz called the results a 'disaster'.

The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party won a landslide victory in the state elections in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, held yesterday (Sunday). Chancellor Friedrich Merz's Christian Democratic Union (CDU) failed for the first time in its history to secure 5% of the vote and pass the electoral threshold, remaining outside parliament. Meanwhile, the anti-Israel left-wing party Die Linke won a majority of votes in Berlin, which will allow it to elect the mayor. Chancellor Merz called the election results a 'disaster' and stated his intention to continue promoting his economic reforms, which sparked opposition within the coalition. Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania's Prime Minister Manuela Schwesig criticized his remarks, arguing that 'a greater degree of humility' is required. Despite the victory, the AfD is unlikely to form a government due to the refusal of other parties to cooperate with it. Concerns about its entry into government relate to its pro-Russian policies, plans for mass deportations, dilution of Holocaust education, and segregation in classrooms. A resident of Schwerin told Reuters that 'those who voted for them did not listen in history class. We have been in a similar situation before, almost 100 years ago.'