immigration party AfD returns more strong election results
The right-wing AfD party has achieved significant gains in German state elections, placing pressure on Chancellor Friedrich Merz's leadership. Despite these electoral successes, mainstream parties continue to maintain a 'firewall' to prevent the AfD from entering governing coalitions.
Why it matters
The rise of the AfD signals a shift in the European political landscape and challenges the stability of established centrist governments in Germany.
Friedrich Merz described the result as a "disaster". ( Reuters: Nadja Wohlleben )
Germany's right-wing anti-immigration party AfD is projected to win the most votes in state elections in the country's north-east, according to exit polls.
If poll results are confirmed, they would be the worst results since 1949 for Chancellor Friedrich Merz's Christian Democratic Union.
Mr Merz has signalled he will push on as chancellor amid speculation the bad result could prompt him to resign.
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The right-wing Alternative for Deutschland (AfD) party has made strong gains in more state elections, according to exit polls, leaving Chancellor Friedrich Merz's future balanced on a knife's edge after 16 months in office.
The AfD emerged with 37 per cent of votes in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, according to polls conducted by public broadcasters ARD and ZDF.
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