CDU's Amthor blames internal party divisions for poor election result in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern

Polling stations have closed. Citizens in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern and Berlin have elected new state parliaments. Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz is under pressure. What consequences will the election results have for the federal government?

All key developments for Berlin and Mecklenburg-Vorpommern can be found below.

Live Updates

19:42 – Sunday, September 20 — Krach does not expect expropriation of housing companies

Berlin SPD lead candidate Steffen Krach does not anticipate the expropriation of large real estate corporations, even after the Left Party's victory in the House of Representatives election.

"I am very sure that it will not work out in the end," Krach said on ARD. "We saw in the polls that the majority of Berliners remain opposed," he stated.

During the campaign, the Left Party emphasized its intention to expropriate large housing companies and introduce a rent cap for municipally owned apartments.

Steffen Krach (left) congratulates Left Party politician Elif Eralp — Source: ODD ANDERSEN/AFP

19:39 – Sunday, September 20 — Weidel sees opportunity for forming a government in Saxony-Anhalt

AfD leader Alice Weidel hopes that the disappointing election results for the CDU will benefit her own party in Saxony-Anhalt.

Asked how she justifies coalition talks with BSW, given her past criticism of the Union for pursuing left-wing policies, Weidel responded on ARD: "If there are overlaps, then we can do so, even in a minority government if necessary; that remains completely open."

Regarding the difficult government formation in Saxony-Anhalt, Weidel added: "Above all, we must give our colleagues in Saxony-Anhalt time to organize themselves there."

She suggested that the CDU's poor election result of just over five percent in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern might also impact Saxony-Anhalt, "namely that the CDU will think very carefully about whether it can continue with this firewall policy, especially in eastern Germany."

19:35 – Sunday, September 20 — Left Party leader: Confident

(Further details to follow)

19:12 – Sunday, September 20 — Amthor: Flirting by CDU politicians with AfD worsened election result

CDU politician Philipp Amthor attributes partial blame for the party's poor election result to CDU politicians from Mecklenburg-Vorpommern who had advocated cooperation with the AfD.

"This rather contributed to even greater uncertainty among our voters here in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern," said the State Minister in the Chancellery, who hails from the state, on ZDF.

Philipp Amthor in the ARD election studio — Source: Marcus Brandt/dpa Pool/dpa

18:45 – Sunday, September 20 — Results at a glance

According to initial projections by ARD and ZDF:

• Mecklenburg-Vorpommern: The AfD narrowly leads the SPD. The CDU must fear failing to re-enter the state parliament.
• Berlin: The Left Party clearly leads in the House of Representatives election. The CDU comes in second.

All forecasts and projections for Mecklenburg-Vorpommern at a glance can be found here.

All forecasts and projections for Berlin at a glance can be found here.

This live ticker will be updated as new information becomes available.