Merz calls Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania vote a disaster as AfD leads and Left tops Berlin

In a national address, Germany's Merz called the Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania election outcome a disaster. Exit polls put the far-right AfD ahead of the Social Democrats; co-leader Tino Chrupalla claimed a mandate to govern. In Berlin, the Left Party led, with lead candidate Elif Eralp celebrating and pledging a focus on affordable housing.