Germany’s Die Linke, AfD win big in German state elections in setback for Merz’s CDU

Germany's far-left Die Linke party won a significant victory in the recent state elections, securing the top spot in Berlin with 25.7% of the vote. This result marks a substantial increase in their support compared to the previous election. The Christian Democratic Union (CDU), which has traditionally governed Berlin, finished second in the polls.

Meanwhile, the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party secured a strong third position in Berlin, with about 16% of the vote, their best-ever performance in a Berlin election.

Die Linke's chief candidate, Elif Eralp, is now aiming to form a coalition with the Social Democratic Party (SPD) and the Greens. This potential coalition could potentially yield enough seats to govern the capital. If Eralp successfully forms a government, Die Linke would assume leadership of Berlin for the first time in its history.

Eralp's campaign emphasized addressing Berlin's housing crisis and high rents, advocating for the expropriation of major housing companies for public ownership, a proposal that could potentially involve over 200,000 apartments. This issue could pose a significant challenge in coalition negotiations.

In the north of the country, the AfD made substantial gains in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, winning 38.2% of the vote, which surpassed the Social Democratic Party (SPD). The CDU failed to achieve the 5% threshold required for entry into the state parliament for the first time ever, marking its worst performance in postwar Germany.

These results have put pressure on Germany's governing parties and raised questions about the future of Die Linke's relations with pro-Palestinian activists and allegations of antisemitism within the party.