SCHWERIN (GERMANY): The Alternative for Germany (AfD) took first place in state elections in northeastern Germany Sunday, exit polls showed, delivering a “disaster” for Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who vowed to push ahead with his reform agenda.
The AfD was set to win 37% in the state of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, ahead of the centre-left Social Democrats on 35.5% and far in front of Merz’s conservatives, who got 5.5% and barely crossed the threshold to enter the state parliament, according to exit polls on ARD public television. If confirmed, Sunday’s result would be the worst in any state election for Merz’s party since 1949.
“It’s a disaster,” Merz said in televised remarks, but signalled that he would fight on as chancellor after speculation that a bad result could prompt him to resign. But the far-right party is unlikely to govern as the other main parties rule out working with it. It would also be another first-place finish at state level in a month for the AfD party, which is shunned by mainstream parties but is topping national opinion polls.