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Germany's CDU falls below 5% in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern state election, a historic defeat
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On September 20, 2026, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz's Christian Democratic Union (CDU) suffered a historic defeat in regional elections in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern and Berlin. For the first time since 1949, the CDU fell below the 5% threshold required for parliamentary representation in a state election, in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. The party was defeated by the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern and by the far-left in Berlin. This defeat follows the CDU's loss of Saxony-Anhalt on September 6, where it had governed since 2002, to the AfD, which is now attempting to form a governing coalition there. The article notes that the AfD's rise is causing concern within EU institutions.
Source report
The Christian Democratic Union (CDU)—the party of Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who has been in power in Berlin since May 2025—suffered a crushing defeat in two regional elections held on Sunday, September 20. The CDU was outpaced by the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) in the state of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania and by the radical left in Berlin.
This unprecedented setback comes just two weeks after the CDU lost the state of Saxony-Anhalt on September 6—a state it had governed since 2002—to the far-right AfD, which is now attempting to form a governing coalition there.
Further reading:
- Regional Elections in Germany: The Rise of the Far-Right AfD Alarms EU Institutions (Article reserved for subscribers)
Source
Politique : Toute l’actualité sur Le Monde.fr.Western
Part of this Story
CDU shut out of state parliament for first time since 1949; Merz vows to continue reforms