Berlin, September 20th, 2026 (The Berlin Spectator) – Germany’s federal states of Berlin and Meckenburg-Hither Pomerania held state elections today. Polling stations closed a 6:00 p.m. CEST. These are the first predictions and results.
Berlin
Time: September 21st, 5:17 a.m. (final result)
CDU (center-right): 18.8
SPD (center-left): 12.1
Die Linke (extremist far-left): 25.7
The Greens (center-left): 14.3
AfD (extremist far-right): 16.3
BSW (extremist left-wing): 4.7
Mecklenburg-Hither Pomerania
Time: September 21st, 5:18 a.m. (final result)
CDU (center-right): 4.9
SPD (center-left): 35.5
Die Linke (extremist far-left): 6.5
The Greens (center-left): 5.7
AfD (extremist far-right): 38.2
BSW (extremist left-wing): 4.8
In the early evening, the numbers suggested that extremists might have won in both federal states. In Mecklenburg-Hither Pomerania, the difference between the AfD’s and the SPD’s numbers is tiny, meaning things might still change. In Berlin, the extremist “Die Linke” may have gotten six percent more than the CDU. But the counting of all votes commenced only at 6:00 p.m..
Minor Incidents
Some minor incidents were reported: Several polling locations were sprayed with graffiti. The CDU’s candidate for Governing mayor, Stefan Evers (CDU) was accosted on his way to his polling station in Berlin’s Friedrichshain borough. Also, a door to another polling location was damaged.
In Berlin, 1,100 additional police officers were on duty to make sure the election runs smoothly.
After the polling stations closed, the main candidate for “Die Linke”, Elif Eralp, stated love had won in Berlin, while hatred had lost. She said so in spite of the fact that her own party harbors terror supporters and other antisemites. “Together we will change Berlin”, Eralp said.
Up north in Schwerin, the SPD’s Manuela Schwesig thanked all voters of her party. She said she and her supporters had shown it was possible to counter the far-right AfD.
Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU) also appeared in front of TV cameras. He conceded the results were catastrophic for his party, but made clear he wants to remain in office, in spite of many calls for his resignation and replacement. “I want to advance our country”, he said. Merz also promised reforms.
