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Far-right AfD wins state vote in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania as Merz vows to stay
September 21, 2026
The far-right AfD beat the Social Democrats in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania's state election, and Chancellor Friedrich Merz, whose CDU also lost, says he will stay on.
Friedrich Merz of the CDU is Germany's chancellor and governs in a federal coalition with the Social Democrats, while Alice Weidel leads the far-right Alternative for Germany at the federal level.
Key facts
- With no party likely to join the AfD in a coalition, Manuela Schwesig, the sitting SPD governor who finished second on 35% of the vote, is expected to line up enough allies to keep her post.
- The Guardian's Europe live blog opens in Germany, where Friedrich Merz's party suffered a bruising night.
- Friedrich Merz was due to travel to New York last night for the UN General Assembly.
- In Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, the far-right AfD finished ahead of the SPD, the Social Democrats who share power with Merz.
- Alice Weidel, who leads the far-right AfD at the federal level, told ARD that her party gains the longer Merz refuses to budge.
NPR reports that the far-right AfD beat the Social Democrats, Chancellor Friedrich Merz's partner in the federal government, in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania on Sunday, and that the SPD governor, Manuela Schwesig, took 35% of the vote and second place. She is still expected to keep her office, because the AfD is unlikely to find a party willing to govern with it. NPR also places the losses for Merz's CDU two weeks after a heavy defeat in Saxony-Anhalt, and The Economist's headline pairs a populist win in state elections with Merz lamenting a "disaster".
Merz calls the night a "disaster" for the political center and refuses to step aside. In BBC's account he says, "What needs to be done now requires backbone, steadfastness and patience," and adds, "The reforms have to come." NPR carries the same pledge to press on with tax and welfare reforms, which Merz calls "the antidote to the poison of authoritarianism." BBC carries a longer version of that line, and the two wordings agree in substance. Alice Weidel, who leads the AfD nationally, tells ARD that her party gains the longer Merz holds his ground, and NPR quotes her saying "Friedrich Merz is the wrong chancellor for the CDU" and that he is taking the CDU down with him.
BBC sets the result against months of weak approval ratings and talk of replacing Merz partway through his term in a chancellor swap, noting that his supporters blame inherited problems while he stays deeply unpopular. The Guardian opens its Europe live blog on the bruising night for his party, reports that eight backed him in a letter last week, and asks whether his personal popularity is really the problem. BBC leads with Merz's own words and the pressure on him, NPR with the state result and the coalition arithmetic, and The Guardian with the damage to his party. The outlets agree on the result, on Merz's words and on his decision to stay, while the make-up of the next government in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania is still open.
Merz said, “What needs to be done now requires backbone, steadfastness and patience.”
Merz
Still developing
The new government of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania has not been formed. Manuela Schwesig of the SPD is expected to stay on as governor with the support of allies, since coalition partners willing to govern with the AfD are unlikely.
How settled the reporting is
Sources
- BBC — German Chancellor Merz calls state election a 'disaster' for his party but vows to stay on
- npr.org — German chancellor stands his ground after his party loses in state elections
- The Guardian — Merz insists he will stay as German chancellor despite heavy losses in state elections – Europe live
- The Economist — Friedrich Merz rues “disaster” as populists win state elections
Toggle read the full reports of 3 of the 4 outlets counted on this event. The other 1 are counted from their headlines and opening sentences.