Merz dismisses election losses as a ‘disaster’ after CDU setbacks in Berlin and Mecklenburg-Vorpommern

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz called Sunday’s regional election results a “disaster” for his center-right Christian Democratic Union after exit polls showed the party suffering damaging losses in Berlin and Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. Despite the setback, Merz said he intended to stay on as chancellor and continue pushing his agenda.

The votes drew attention because they deepened concern inside Germany’s mainstream conservative bloc and underscored the pressure Merz faces after months of criticism over his leadership. In Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, early projections suggested the CDU was barely clearing the threshold needed to enter parliament, while in Berlin it appeared to be slipping behind the Left Party and out of first place.

The elections were held on Sunday, September 20, 2026, and exit polls immediately suggested another difficult day for the CDU. According to early estimates reported by broadcasters, the far-right Alternative for Germany was on track to win the most votes in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, although other parties are expected to keep it out of government by refusing to cooperate with it.

Pressure grows after back-to-back regional setbacks

Merz’s pledge to remain in office comes amid speculation in Germany that his political standing could weaken further if regional defeats continue. The CDU’s performance in Berlin was especially notable because the party had won the city-state’s last election in 2023, when it finished first with a much stronger result than it appeared to be on course for this time.

In Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, the result was particularly sensitive because the state has long been part of the broader political struggle over how far Germany’s mainstream parties should go in confronting the far right. Early projections suggested the CDU could suffer one of its weakest results there in years, while the AfD’s strong showing added to the sense of a shifting political landscape.

Merz’s remarks signaled that he does not intend to treat the losses as a reason to step aside. Instead, he has framed the challenge as one of restoring confidence in the CDU and regaining ground before Germany’s next major political tests, even as Sunday’s vote renewed scrutiny of the party’s strategy and leadership.
Additional Reader Links

Berlin official preliminary election results: https://www.wahlen-berlin.de/wahlen/BE2026/Afspraes/agh/ergebnisse.html

NDR Mecklenburg-Vorpommern election coverage: https://www.ndr.de/nachrichten/mecklenburg-vorpommern/landtagswahl/landtagswahl-mv-afd-vor-spd-cdu-liegt-nun-bei-49-prozent%2Cmvwahl-370.html