General
Exit Polls: Significant Gains for AfD in German Elections, Chancellor Merz Responds to Historic CDU Loss
The far-right AfD secured 37% of the vote in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, while Die Linke won with 24.5% in Berlin, according to initial exit polls from German state elections. Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s CDU suffered historic losses, prompting AfD leader Tino Chrupalla to call for Merz’s resignation. Merz described the results as a “drama” but accepted responsibility, citing the need for change despite declining trust in government. The poor performance increases pressure within the CDU on Merz amid economic struggles and the rise of the AfD.
Ozetta summarises; the reporting is the newsroom's