AfD Wins Two German States as Left Party Takes Berlin
The Alternative for Germany party secured record wins in Saxony-Anhalt and Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, while Die Linke won a significant victory in Berlin.
Germany concluded three regional elections in September 2026 with starkly divergent results across Saxony-Anhalt, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, and Berlin. The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) achieved a record 43.8% of the vote in Saxony-Anhalt and placed first in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern with 38.2%. Despite these gains, the AfD has not yet formed a government in either state.
The results marked a historic low for the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), which failed to enter the Mecklenburg-Vorpommern state parliament for the first time in its history. This defeat represents a significant blow to the party and its leader, Chancellor Friedrich Merz.
In contrast, the Left party (Die Linke) secured a major victory in Berlin, gaining nearly twice as many new votes as the AfD. Berlin is expected to be governed by a coalition consisting of the Left, the Greens, and the Social Democratic Party (SPD), with Elif Eralp projected to lead the government. While the Social Democratic Party experienced modest losses overall, the results highlight a growing left-wing trend among young women and the potential for left-wing governance in Berlin and Mecklenburg-Vorpommern.
