Local Elections Have Begun In Two Federal States In Germany

• 20.09.2026, 10:52

The results could be a “moment of truth” for Chancellor Friedrich Merz.

Polling stations have opened in the federal states of Berlin and Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania in Germany, where voters will elect state parliaments (Landtage).

This was reported by ZDF.

Polling stations opened at 8 a.m. Berlin time (9 a.m. Kyiv time) and will remain open until 6:00 p.m.

These elections are considered a critical moment for Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who faced the threat of resignation due to the CDU’s failure in the previous local elections in Saxony-Anhalt.

According to an ARD poll, Merz’s conservatives are projected to receive 20% support in Berlin. The Left is ahead of the CDU by 1 percentage point, with 21%.

In third place is the far-right “Alternative for Germany” with 18%. Next are the “Greens” and the Social Democrats—16 and 12 percent, respectively.

In Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, polls indicate a tight race between the SPD and the AfD.

According to a FAZ poll, the party of Social Democratic Prime Minister Manuela Schwesig is polling at 37%, which is three percentage points higher than last week. The far-right “AdG” is at 36%, down one percentage point from a week ago.

As a reminder, in the state elections in Saxony-Anhalt on September 6 “Alternative for Germany” scored a historic victory, while Merz’s CDU, on the other hand, suffered a defeat.