Friedrich Merz’s CDU Faces Historic Setback in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern

On September 20, the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) failed to win a seat in the Mecklenburg-Vorpommern state parliament, receiving less than 5 percent of the vote. The Economist reports this marks the first time the party has been excluded from that legislature.

Friedrich Merz, who assumed the German chancellorship in 2025, has seen his personal approval ratings fall to the lowest level ever recorded for a German head of government, according to polling cited by The Economist. The broader CDU/CSU alliance, including its Bavarian sister party, is also approaching historic lows in nationwide surveys.

• Friedrich Merz – Chancellor of Germany and leader of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU).

• The CDU – Germany’s traditionally dominant centre-right party, now struggling to maintain parliamentary representation in several states.

• CDU vote share in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern: below 5 percent (The Economist).

• Merz’s personal approval rating: the lowest among all German chancellors in polling history (The Economist).

• CDU/CSU national polling: approaching all-time lows, though exact percentages are not specified in the source.

The loss in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern underscores the vulnerability of Merz’s government and raises questions about the CDU’s ability to form governing coalitions at the federal level. Political analysts cited by The Economist suggest that continued electoral setbacks could force the party to renegotiate its policy platform or consider leadership changes, though no concrete plans have been announced.