German polls show Merz’s party squeezed from far right and left

Berlin, Germany – Chancellor Friedrich Merz's centre-right Christian Democratic Union (CDU) faces mounting pressure from both far-right and far-left parties ahead of regional elections on September 20th, according to new polls. The centre-left Social Democrats (SPD) are seen as the party's junior coalition partner, while the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) and far-left Die Linke are gaining ground.

In Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Merz's CDU has plummeted to just 7% in a new ZDF poll, marking the party's worst-ever performance in a regional election across Germany. This performance raises the possibility that the CDU may fall below the 5% threshold needed to secure seats in the state parliament. The AfD leads with 37%, closely followed by the SPD at 34%.

The SPD, traditionally a strong performer in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, is hoping to maintain its historic stronghold in the region. With the AfD lacking potential allies, a potential coalition between the SPD, Die Linke, and the Greens could arise if the poll outcomes hold. The far-right AfD, however, is widely seen as a political taboo due to accusations of racism and ties to neo-Nazis.

In Berlin, the race for the mayoralty currently held by the CDU-SPD coalition remains uncertain, with the SPD and Die Linke neck and neck at 23% and 21%, respectively. The AfD trails at 17%, followed by the Greens at 16% and the SPD at 10%.

For Merz, a chancellor already grappling with record-low personal approval ratings, a far-right victory in Mecklenburg and a far-left win in Berlin would represent further setbacks. There is growing speculation that Merz's own CDU might distance itself from the embattled chancellor, who has been embroiled in coalition infighting over his reform agenda.