AfD Wins Mecklenburg-Vorpommern as CDU Falls Below the 5% Threshold

Germany’s AfD has finished first in the Mecklenburg-Vorpommern state election, while the CDU fell below the threshold needed to remain in parliament.
According to the preliminary result, the AfD won 38.2% of the vote, more than double its 2021 share.
The SPD finished second with 35.5%.
The biggest shock came from the CDU, which fell to 4.9% and failed to clear the 5% threshold.
That would make this the first time the CDU has failed to enter a state parliament in Germany.
The result also marks the party’s worst performance in any German state election since 1949.
The outcome is likely to intensify pressure on Chancellor Friedrich Merz and deepen debate inside the CDU over its strategy while governing federally alongside the SPD.
For markets and European politics, the broader takeaway is the continued fragmentation of Germany’s political landscape and the growing electoral strength of the AfD.