On September 20, elections were held simultaneously in two German federal states — Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania and Berlin.
In the run-up, they were seen as a crucial test for the federal policy of Chancellor Friedrich Merz. Now, with the results announced, concrete shifts in the political landscape can be identified.
Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania
It was here that the elections delivered one of the most indicative outcomes.
Around 1.3 million voters were eligible to elect a new composition of the state parliament — the Landtag, which consists of 71 seats. Voter turnout stood at 78.1% — significantly higher than in 2021, when it reached 70.8%. For the first time in state elections in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, 16- and 17-year-olds were also eligible to vote.
Voting results:
- AfD — 38.2%
- SPD — 35.5%
- Die Linke — 6.5%
- Greens (Grüne) — 5.7%
- CDU — 4.9%
- BSW — 4.8%
- FDP — 1.0%
The AfD became the strongest political force in the state for the first time, securing over 38% of the vote. Its result more than doubled its 2021 tally, when the party garnered 16.7%.
At the same time, taking first place in terms of votes does not automatically mean a change in the state government.
The SPD, led by Manuela Schwesig, came in second. Together with Die Linke and the Greens, the party can mathematically form a parliamentary majority. However, compared to 2021, the SPD lost part of its support, having secured 39.6% back then.
For the CDU, the result was historic. The party won 4.9% and, for the first time since German reunification, failed to clear the five-percent electoral threshold in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania’s state elections, remaining outside the Landtag. The BSW also failed to cross the threshold, receiving 4.8%.
Special attention was drawn to the result in Schwerin. Incumbent Minister-President Manuela Schwesig (SPD) won her constituency, securing 54.4% of the first vote (constituency vote). Her main challenger from the AfD, Leif-Erik Holm, took 28.2%.
What happened in Berlin?
On September 20, Berlin elected a new Abgeordnetenhaus — the House of Representatives — as well as district assemblies.
A total of 2,487,318 people were eligible to vote in the House of Representatives election. For the first time in elections to the Abgeordnetenhaus, 16- and 17-year-old German citizens were also permitted to cast their ballots.
The result in Berlin also shifted the political landscape. According to preliminary results, Die Linke emerged as the strongest party, securing 25.6% of the vote, while the CDU lost first place.
What does this mean for federal politics?
State elections are formally not a vote on the chancellor. Nevertheless, their results carry political significance for federal parties, particularly for the CDU/CSU and the country’s federal leadership.
Following the CDU’s performance in Saxony-Anhalt on September 6 and the party’s current tally in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, questions regarding the CDU’s political standing and its federal leadership are receiving even more scrutiny.
Friedrich Merz himself called the CDU’s result in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania a “catastrophe,” while reiterating his intention to remain in the office of Federal Chancellor.
The state election results matter not only for Germany’s domestic politics. The country remains one of the key European nations regarding support for Ukraine, which means shifts in the German political landscape could also carry weight for European policy.
Main attention will now focus on how the election outcomes affect the formation of state governments, party positions, and subsequent interaction between the federal and state levels of government.
The elections are over, but their political consequences are only beginning to unfold.
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Author: Oksana Shoorlemmer
Photo: from open sources