Germany: AfD wins in northeastern state, Left in Berlin

The far-right AfD has come first in the state election in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, with Chancellor Merz's CDU failing to enter parliament. Meanwhile the Left Party took first place in Berlin. DW has more.

• The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) won in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, narrowly ahead of the center-left Social Democratic Party
• Chancellor Friedrich Merz 's conservative Christian Democratic Union (CDU) failed to enter the state parliament
• Merz strikes defiant tone, pledging to 'get down to business' with reforming Germany after 'disaster' state election
• The socialist Left Party has finished first in Berlin with roughly 25% of the vote, ahead of CDU
• Smaller parties hovering around the 5% threshold could still have a major impact on the final balance of seats
• The outcome of the elections could determine the political future of Merz, whose approval rating is at a record low
• For the first time, 16- and 17-year-olds are eligible to vote in both states

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