Full Breakdown
Die Linke Leads Berlin While AfD Tops Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania: Election Night Shifts Germany’s Political Landscape
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event – Results on September 20
On September 20 voters in Berlin and Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania cast ballots that produced a stark split. Provisional counts from ARD and ZDF show Die Linke as the front-runner in Berlin with roughly 25 % of the vote, ahead of the CDU at about 19 % and the AfD in third place with 15–16 %. In Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania the AfD secured the highest share, projected at 37–38 %, while the CDU hovered just above the 5 % threshold (5.0–5.5 %). The SPD placed second in the east with 35–36 % and fell to roughly 12 % in Berlin.
Background & Context – Recent Setbacks for the CDU and Rise of Extremes
The outcomes follow a series of defeats for Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s CDU. Earlier state elections in Saxony-Anhalt saw the AfD win with 44 % and the CDU fall well below its historic average. Merz, who took office in May 2025, called the Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania result a “disaster” and vowed to stay chancellor while pursuing reforms. The AfD’s surge in the east marks its third consecutive victory in a federal state, echoing gains in Thuringia (2024) and Saxony-Anhalt (2026).
Data & Statistics – Vote Shares Across Parties and Age Groups
- Die Linke (Berlin): 24.5–26 % (ARD/ZDF); 25.1 % (ZDF/Forschungsgruppe Wahlen).
- CDU (Berlin): 19.1–19.7 %; 19 % (ZDF).
- AfD (Berlin): 13.5–16 % (exit-polls).
- SPD (Berlin): 11.8–12.1 %; 12 % (ZDF).
- Greens (Berlin): 14.5–15.5 %.
- AfD (Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania): 37–38 % (ARD/ZDF); 38.3 % (Democrata).
- CDU (Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania): 5.0–5.5 %.
- SPD (Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania): 35–36 %.
In Berlin, Die Linke enjoys strong generational support: 48 % among voters aged 25-34 and 42 % among those aged 16-24, versus 15 % among voters 60-69.
Official Statements & Responses
- Friedrich Merz called the Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania result a “disaster” but affirmed his intention to stay chancellor and press ahead with reforms.
- Elif Eralp, Die Linke’s Berlin candidate, pledged to “guarantee affordable housing” and “change Berlin together.”
- Manuela Schwesig, SPD minister-president of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, emphasized a “firewall” against the AfD and said she will continue governing.
Criticism & Opposition
- Michael Mueller, former SPD mayor of Berlin, warned that forming a coalition with “inexperienced leftists” would be “very difficult.”
- Tino Chrupalla, AfD co-leader, called the CDU’s performance a “disaster” and urged Merz to resign.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Sources differ on exact percentages. Die Linke’s Berlin share is reported as 24.5 %–26 %, 25.1 %, and 25.3 %. AfD’s Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania support ranges from 37 % to 38.3 %. CDU figures vary between 5.0 % and 5.5 %. Final seat allocations will depend on the completed count.
What’s Next – Coalition Negotiations and Government Formation
In Berlin, the incumbent CDU-SPD coalition lacks a majority, making a red-red-green alliance the most likely path if the Greens clear the 5 % threshold; otherwise a minority “red-red” arrangement would need CDU support, which the federal party convention opposes. In Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, the AfD’s lead does not guarantee a governing mandate because other parties have ruled out cooperation; the SPD may seek a coalition with the Greens and possibly the CDU if it secures parliamentary entry. Formal talks will begin after the final vote count, shaping the political environment ahead of the 2029 federal election.