Merz hit by regional setback as AfD surges again in eastern Germany

Chancellor Friedrich Merz called the Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania regional vote a 'disaster' after exit polls showed the far-right AfD on track for a second win in two weeks, threatening to govern the eastern state. The CDU slumped to about 5.5%, while the SPD appeared best positioned to form a coalition to block the AfD. Merz refused to resign and pledged to push ahead with his reform agenda (including pension and health changes) as a counter to authoritarianism, arguing the reforms require backbone and patience amid rising AfD momentum across eastern Germany.