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Voters in the German states of Berlin and Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania are heading to the polls on Sunday in elections that could impact the political future of Chancellor Friedrich Merz. Approximately 3.8 million people are eligible to cast ballots, with 2.5 million in Berlin and 1.3 million in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. Polling stations opened at 8:00 a.m. local time and are scheduled to close at 6:00 p.m.
The elections follow a significant defeat for Merz’s Christian Democratic Union (CDU) party in Saxony-Anhalt two weeks ago, where the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party secured a strong performance. Merz, who has been in power for 16 months, is currently facing approval ratings of approximately 14 percent amid difficulties in implementing economic and social welfare reforms with his coalition partners, the Social Democratic Party (SPD).
In Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, recent polling from the public broadcaster ZDF indicates a tight contest between the SPD, led by state premier Manuela Schwesig, and the AfD, led by Leif-Erik Holm. The CDU is currently polling at 6 percent in the state, nearing the 5 percent threshold required to maintain representation in the state parliament.
In Berlin, the CDU is engaged in a competitive race against the far-left Die Linke party, which has campaigned on addressing the city’s housing crisis. Political analysts suggest that the AfD’s recent electoral gains reflect voter dissatisfaction regarding migration, economic conditions, and social inequality.
Florian Hartleb, a professor of international relations at Modul University in Vienna, described the recent success of the AfD in Saxony-Anhalt as a significant shift for the German party system. Chancellor Merz has reportedly cleared his schedule and organized a crisis meeting for the CDU to address the potential outcomes of Sunday’s voting.
Article source: www.aljazeera.com | Image credit: www.aljazeera.com
