World · Important news for 21 September 2026

State elections in Berlin and Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania resulted in historic defeats for Chancellor Friedrich Merz's center-right CDU party and significant gains and a first-place finish for the far-right AfD, while the Left Party took first place in Berlin. Chancellor Merz described the results as a disaster and faced mounting pressure, calling a crisis meeting and skipping the UN General Assembly, but vowed to stay in office and press ahead with reforms despite lacking coalition options for the AfD.

• CDU suffered damaging losses in state elections in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern and Berlin.
• Chancellor Friedrich Merz described the election results as a disaster for his party but vowed to remain in office.
• Friedrich Merz's party suffered a major electoral setback in two state elections.
• The far-right Alternative for Germany party made significant gains.
• Merz vowed to press ahead with reforms despite the losses.
• The far-right AfD came first in the state election in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania.
• Chancellor Merz's CDU failed to enter parliament in the state.
• The Left Party took first place in Berlin.
• Friedrich Merz called the state election result a disaster.
• Merz vowed to stay in office despite pressure.
• Voters participated in state elections in Berlin and Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania.
• Chancellor Friedrich Merz skipped the UN General Assembly and called a crisis meeting.