{
  "id": 8700427,
  "title": "Landtagswahlen: Wahlen in Berlin und MV: Hohe Beteiligung zeichnet sich ab",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/20/landtagswahlen-wahlen-in-berlin-und-mv-hohe-beteiligung-zeichnet-sich",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-20T14:02:17.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Handelsblatt",
    "slug": "handelsblatt",
    "url": "https://www.handelsblatt.com/politik/deutschland/landtagswahlen-wahlen-in-berlin-und-mv-hohe-beteiligung-zeichnet-sich-ab/100255884.html"
  },
  "original_language": "de",
  "account": "Two weeks after the AfD's victory in Saxony-Anhalt, elections in Berlin and Mecklenburg-Vorpommern began with high voter turnout. By 14:00, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern had seen 40.7% of its 1.3 million eligible voters cast their ballots in the polling stations, compared to 32.5% in 2021, according to the Landeswahlleitung. Berlin's turnout was 4.5 percentage points higher than during the same time last year, at 27.9%, the Landeswahlleitung reported. The turnout figures include all valid ballots, with roughly a third being cast by mail, Landeswahlleiter Stephan Bröchler told the dpa. The results are expected to be crucial for the future of the red-green coalition at the federal level, as Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU) was previously rumored to be at risk of losing his position, including within the Union. Minister-President and SPD frontrunner Manuela Schwesig of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern urged eligible voters to participate, saying, \"I hope that all citizens go to the polls and make a strong statement, and that it's a good day for our country.\" In Berlin, CDU frontrunner Stefan Evers arrived at the polls \"extremely relieved and relaxed,\" saying, \"It's a tight race in Berlin.\" So the current situation stands: Berlin. The coalition formed here, composed of CDU and SPD, may lose its majority, as surveys suggest that only three-way alliances – either the CDU with SPD and Greens, or the left party joining with SPD and Greens – could form the majority in the new parliament. The decisive factor will be which party emerges as the strongest, potentially gaining the right to become the Mayor of the Republic, either again the CDU or, for the first time, the left. CDU and the left parties are currently ranked between 20 and 23 percent in recent polls, while the AfD and Greens follow closely behind. The SPD, which has governed Berlin continuously since 1989, hopes to secure a place in the fifth position with 10 to 15 percent. Eligible voters in Berlin total 2.5 million, making history as the first time 16 and 17-year-olds are allowed to vote. Initially, 2,542 polling stations and 1,572 mail-in polling stations were set up, with up to 40,000 election workers deployed. CDU removed Mayor Kai Wegner in July and replaced him with Financial Senator Evers as the new frontrunner after new revelations about his crisis management during a major power outage in January. In Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, the campaign revolved around the rivalry between the AfD and SPD. The AfD had dominated the polls, but the SPD, led by Minister-President Schwesig, made a comeback in recent weeks, even overtaking the AfD in the last poll before the election. Should the AfD become the strongest party, it would have no realistic chance of forming a government, as both the CDU and the left parties had previously ruled out a coalition with the AfD. Schwesig, the SPD frontrunner, returned to the parliament with her \"Woman against Blue\" campaign, promising to stop \"rent gouging\" and redistribute around 220,000 apartments currently owned by large real estate conglomerates. She had to face accusations of antisemitism within her party, as some members are openly critical of Palestinians. In Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, the polls showed a tight race between the AfD and SPD, with the AfD at 36-38 percent and the SPD at 33-37 percent in recent surveys. The AfD had lost much ground in the SPD's favor recently, currently at around 7 percent, while the BSW remained under the five percent threshold. In Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, people can vote if they have a German passport and have resided in the state for at least 37 days. For the first time, 16 and 17-year-olds are eligible to vote. Polls are open until 18:00, with early results expected by 19:00, and the final outcome anticipated by 23:00.",
  "summary": "Werden Landtagswahlen in zwei Bundesländern zum Wegweiser in der Merz-Krise? In Berlin wie auch in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern nutzen mehr Wähler als zuvor das Recht zur Stimmabgabe.",
  "key_points": [
    "High voter turnout in Berlin and Mecklenburg-Vorpommern elections",
    "40.7% of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern's eligible voters cast ballots",
    "Berlin's turnout 4.5 percentage points higher than 2021"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}