PoliticsAfD surges as Merz’s CDU suffers setback in regional elections

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz suffered another electoral setback as his centre-right CDU performed poorly in two state elections. Projections indicated that it would miss the parliament in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, where the far-right AfD led, while the far-left Die Linke topped the vote in Berlin. The AfD made major gains in both states.