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German state votes test Chancellor Merz standing
BBC News··5d ago
Voters in Berlin and Mecklenburg-Vorpommern cast ballots Sunday in elections watched for Chancellor Friedrich Merz. Polls put his CDU at risk of defeats in both states. Contests follow an AfD win in Saxony-Anhalt two weeks ago, when the CDU vote roughly halved. Merz has said he will continue, 16 months into office, as AfD support stays strong in the east.
Prism
What It Means For You
- Poor CDU results would raise fresh questions about Merz remaining chancellor mid-term.
- In Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, polls had the CDU near the 5 percent parliament threshold.
- Berlin polls showed the CDU tussling with Die Linke for first place.
What's Happening
- Local elections are under way in two German states on Sunday, the BBC reported.
- AfD is seeking to build on its Saxony-Anhalt win in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern.
- SPD state premier Manuela Schwesig is campaigning as a leading anti-AfD option there.
Why Merz Is Under Watch
- Some AfD branches are classed as right-wing extremist by domestic intelligence, a label the party rejects.
- Merz's backers say he inherited tough global and domestic problems after 16 months in office.
- Tagesschau reported challengers for a mid-term chancellor swap are still hesitating.
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