Berlin — page 2

Sorbonne Professor Hans Stark: 'Merz is in a very, very fragile situation'

The far right AfD claims it has become Germany’s new “people’s party”. The statement comes after AfD claimed its second regional election win in as many weeks, ramping up pressure on the poorly performing CDU and Chancellor Friedrich Merz. The far-left party also advanced, winning its third regional election thanks to its latest victory in Berlin. Perspective spoke to Hans Stark, professor in contemporary German civilization at Sorbonne University, who said that Merz is now in a very fragile situation, but that there is no obvious candidate to take over from him.

France 24•Stuart NORVAL21 Sept

Regional losses for Germany's ruling CDU

Another electoral setback for German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, as his centre-right CDU performed poorly in two state elections on Sunday. Projections showed the party failing to enter the state parliament in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, where the far-right AfD came out on top, while the far-left Die Linke led the vote in Berlin. The AfD also made significant gains in both states, building on its recent victory in Saxony-Anhalt. France 24 Europe editor Armen Georgian shares further insights.

France 24•FRANCE2421 Sept

Merz ‘fighting for political survival’ as AfD takes another state and The Left wins Berlin

Chancellor Friedrich Merz spoke to press just minutes after polls revealed massive CDU losses. In Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, the party failed to make the five-percent threshold. In Berlin, where the party had held power, it was thrashed by the Left.

EUobserver•Soňa Weissová21 Sept

Latest German election humiliation puts Merz on borrowed time as CDU unrest grows

Chancellor acknowledges disastrous state election results but vow to push on is likely to further alienate voters, and his own party Friedrich Merz called it a “disaster”, and that was even before the full scale of the catastrophe for himself and his conservative Christian Democratic Union (CDU) came into view after Sunday’s state elections . In what one outlet called a “power move” , the German chancellor made a highly unusual televised speech just minutes after polls closed in the states of Berlin and Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, attempting to get ahead of the narrative with a pledge to stay on and fight for his economic recovery programme . Continue reading...

The Guardian•Deborah Cole in Berlin21 Sept

AfD surges as Merz’s CDU suffers regional elections setback

Another electoral setback for German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, as his centre-right CDU performed poorly in two state elections on Sunday. Projections showed the party failing to enter the state parliament in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, where the far-right AfD came out on top, while the far-left Die Linke led the vote in Berlin. The AfD also made significant gains in both states, building on its recent victory in Saxony-Anhalt. Nick Rushworth reports.

France 24•FRANCE2421 Sept

Elif Eralp could become first Left Party mayor in Berlin

One candidate has been making headlines in Berlin in recent weeks: Elif Eralp of the left-wing Die Linke party. Her campaign methods and rhetoric have drawn comparisons with New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani. Anne Mailliet, Paul-Louis Godard and Leyla Sobler report.

France 24•FRANCE2421 Sept

Germany: CDU suffers a crushing defeat in the regional elections

Germany’s regional elections delivered mixed results for the country’s major parties. In Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, the far-right AfD won the largest share of the vote, but remains isolated as other parties have ruled out coalition talks, leaving incumbent SPD premier Manuela Schwesig with a realistic path to forming a government. In Berlin, meanwhile, the Left Party came out on top and could potentially form a coalition with the Greens and SPD. The CDU, however, performed poorly in both elections, putting additional pressure on Chancellor Friedrich Merz and his conservative bloc. Speaking after the results, France 24 correspondent Jörg Taszman reported that Merz said his government would “continue with the reforms” and that “Germany will be better,” urging supporters not to focus only on what has gone wrong.

France 24•FRANCE2421 Sept

Five takeaways from Germany's regional elections after far-right gains

Sunday's elections in two German states resulted in the defeat of the country's ruling CDU, a result described as a “disaster” by Chancellor Friedrich Merz. In Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, in the northeast of the country, the far-right AfD became the strongest party while the hard-left Die Linke led the polls in Berlin.

France 24•FRANCE 2421 Sept

Germany: The Left triumphs in Berlin as AfD surges in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania

Germany’s final state elections of the year have delivered a sharp political shake-up. The Left has won Berlin, while the AfD has come out on top in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, with the CDU suffering heavy losses in both elections.

Euronews21 Sept

Berlin Left notches historic win, far right takes narrow victory in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern

State elections in Berlin and Mecklenburg-Vorpommern demonstrate Germany's further dissatisfaction with the political mainstream. Both results pile pressure on Chancellor Friedrich Merz.

Courthouse News•Dave Braneck20 Sept

German state elections deal a blow to Chancellor Friedrich Merz

Elections in Berlin and Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania have dealt the CDU a historic defeat while the AfD saw a massive gain. The pressure on Germany's unpopular chancellor is mounting.

Deutsche Welle20 Sept

• critical toward Friedrich Merz · 99%

Far-left party wins Berlin election, pledging to nationalise housing

Why Merz is staying on as German chancellor after election 'disaster'

Berlin correspondent Jess Parker explains why German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has vowed to stay on despite exit polls in two local elections suggesting damaging defeats for his centre-right Christian Democratic Union (CDU) party.

BBC20 Sept

AfD makes gains in state elections, but has no government options

Despite making significant gains in both Berlin and Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, the far-right AfD remains without options to form a state government.

Deutsche Welle20 Sept

German Chancellor Merz calls state election a 'disaster' for his party but vows to stay on

Exit polls show damaging losses for Merz's centre-right CDU party in the states of Berlin and Mecklenburg-Vorpommern.

BBC20 Sept

Exit polls show 'disaster' for Merz' CDU party in two state elections

Germans headed to the polls today in two state elections - in Berlin and Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. Exit polls suggest a dramatic loss for the Chancellor Freidrich Mertz's Christian Democratic Union party. Details by FRANCE 24 correspondent in Berlin, Jörg Taszman.

France 24•FRANCE2420 Sept

Germany’s Merz admits ‘disaster’ in state elections, vows to press ahead with reforms

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on Sunday described his CDU party's heavy losses in two regional elections as a "disaster", but vowed to push ahead with a reform drive. The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party took first place in ​the northeastern state of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, exit polls showed, and also gained in strength in another election in Berlin.

France 24•FRANCE 2420 Sept

Far left ahead in Berlin state election, exit polls show

AfD threatens fresh blow to Merz: Two German states hold key vote

Two German states are heading to the polls today – in Berlin and the state of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. The far-right AfD party is expected to make further gains after securing a historic win in Saxony-Anhalt two weeks ago, though it has no realistic path to power in Berlin. Sunday's vote is a key test for Chancellor Friedrich Merz, one that could determine whether he can hold on to power. Details with Jamie Smith-Maillet, FRANCE 24 international affairs editor.

France 24•FRANCE2420 Sept

Germany: Could regional polls force Friedrich Merz to step down?

Polling is underway in the German capital Berlin and the largely rural state of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania for regional elections. Both elections are seen as a test for Germany's centre-right Chancellor Friedrich Merz. He has already scheduled a crisis meeting and decided to skip this week's UN General Assembly to deal with the potential fallout. Could he be forced to step down based on the election’s results? Details and analysis by Yann Wernert, senior policy fellow at the Jacques Delors Centre in Berlin.

France 24•FRANCE2420 Sept

• neutral toward Friedrich Merz · 95%