Germany is heading into a critical election year in 2026, with five state votes set to challenge Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s centre-right-leftist (CDU-SPD) coalition.
Public dissatisfaction with the government is high, driven by stalled reforms, broken promises, the inability to handle illegal migration, and internal infighting, leaving the right-wing AfD poised to make historic gains.
In the eastern states of Saxony-Anhalt and Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, the party is positioned to dominate local politics unless centrist parties can form broad coalitions. Even in regions where the AfD is not leading, its growth signals a significant shift in voter sentiment, challenging the traditional dominance of the CDU and SPD.
