Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s CDU party failed to enter the Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania state parliament after winning 4.9% of the vote, the first time the party has missed the 5% threshold in Germany’s post-World War II history. The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) won that regional election, while the far-left Left Party secured 25.7% of the vote in Berlin, finishing ahead of the CDU’s 18.8% share.

Merz vowed Monday to maintain his ruling coalition to protect the country's democratic future and proceed with his economic reform agenda. The results prompted the AfD to predict Merz will be removed from office before the end of the year, marking the center-right CDU's third state election loss in 2026.