CDU Crashes Out of Mecklenburg State Parliament

The Christian Democratic Union (CDU) failed to clear the 5% threshold and will be excluded from the state parliament in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, according to preliminary official figures. With 4.9% of the vote, it recorded its worst result in any state election in the history of the Federal Republic and failed to enter a state parliament for the first time in its history.

The Alternative for Germany (AfD) won the election with 38.2% of the vote, ahead of the Social Democratic Party of Germany (SPD) on 35.5%. The Left, with 6.5%, and the Greens, with 5.7%, also won seats in parliament. Sahra Wagenknecht’s Alliance (BSW) narrowly missed out with 4.8%.

AfD candidate for minister-president Leif-Erik Holm said the result gave his party a mandate to form a government. However, all the other parties entering parliament have ruled out cooperation with the AfD. A coalition between the SPD, the Left and the Greens therefore appears likely, allowing Minister-President Manuela Schwesig to remain in office.

Chancellor and CDU Chairman Friedrich Merz described his party’s result as a disaster. He said he intended to remain both chancellor and CDU chairman and press ahead with the planned reforms.

(Bild, lud)