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

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz's centre-right Christian Democrats (CDU) are facing increasing pressure from both far-right and radical left parties ahead of upcoming regional elections, according to new polls. The polls, published on Friday, show Merz's CDU performing poorly in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania and Berlin. In Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, the CDU's support dropped to just 7%, its worst-ever showing in a regional election.

This would mean the CDU might fall below the 5% threshold needed to secure seats in a state parliament. The Alternative for Germany (AfD) leads the poll with 37%, closely followed by the centre-left Social Democrats (SPD) at 34%. The far-left Die Linke is in third place with 10%. If this poll holds true, a potential coalition would likely form between the SPD, Die Linke, and the Greens, with the AfD lacking suitable allies due to its controversial reputation.

In Berlin, the race for the mayoralty, currently held by the CDU-SPD coalition, appears to be narrowing, with Die Linke holding a narrow lead over the CDU, followed by the AfD, Greens, and the SPD. The CDU's poor performance in both regions is expected to further damage Merz's already low approval ratings as a chancellor. There is speculation that Merz's party might distance itself from him, given his entanglement in coalition disputes and his reform agenda.