Voters head to polls in Berlin and Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania as pressure mounts on Chancellor Merz

Voting underway across two federal states

Polling stations opened at 08:00 local time on Sunday across Berlin and Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, where approximately 3.8 million citizens hold the right to cast ballots. The capital city accounts for roughly 2.5 million eligible voters, while the Baltic coastal state of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania has nearly 1.3 million. Voting stations will remain open until 18:00, at which time the first exit polls will be broadcast. The dual regional election takes place two weeks after the vote in Saxony-Anhalt, where Alternative for Germany achieved its highest vote share in a regional election. Both state ballots are widely viewed as an important test for the federal governing coalition.

Political pressure on Chancellor Merz

The regional vote tests the standing of Chancellor Friedrich Merz after 16 months in power. Merz faces personal approval ratings that have dropped to 10%, alongside criticism regarding unfulfilled commitments to restore economic growth and limit the electoral gains of Alternative for Germany. Poor electoral performance could challenge his position at the head of the Christian Democratic Union or initiate discussions about early federal elections, an outcome currently viewed as unlikely but not ruled out. The chancellor canceled a planned appearance at the United Nations General Assembly in New York because a government official noted his presence was required in Berlin. Merz has dismissed calls to resign, pledging to continue his administration's economic and social reform program.

We, as a government, were elected for four years, and I was elected for four years. And I want to use these four years to lead the country out of this difficult period.

Local campaigns and policy divides

In Berlin, the governing CDU is contesting the top position against the left-wing party Die Linke. Housing policy emerged as the central dispute in the capital, where Die Linke campaigned on demands to expropriate corporate landlords in response to rising residential rental expenses. Meanwhile, Alternative for Germany, the largest opposition party in the Bundestag and the current leader in nationwide polling, seeks additional representation. Pre-election surveys indicate that the party will not secure an absolute majority in either Berlin or Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, with projections placing the group in third position in the capital race.

Shifting voter coalitions in regional politics

The elections follow demographic shifts observed during the preceding state election in Saxony-Anhalt, where Alternative for Germany narrowly missed an absolute majority. Political analyst Cătălin Buciumeanu reported that the party mobilized approximately 170,000 former non-voters and gained 82,000 votes from the CDU in that contest. Survey findings cited by the analyst showed the party securing 61% of votes among manual workers and 52% among voters aged 35 to 59. Buciumeanu explained that attracting traditional constituents from rival parties and engaging previous non-voters suggests a durable voter realignment rather than a temporary protest reaction.

I think what is happening is more than a protest vote, because the AfD has expanded its electoral base to more citizens than just those dissatisfied with the current political class in Germany.