Holger Zschaepitz(@Schuldensuehner):Good Morning from Germany, where voters have delivered a historic blow to the political mainstream. Merz’s CDU has been shut out of a state parliament for the first time in the Federal Republic’s history: just 4.9% in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, where the far-right AfD won 38.2%. In Berlin, The anti-capitalist Left topped the poll w/25.7%. As Germany’s electorate polarises, pressure on Chancellor Merz is mounting and so is the risk that much-needed growth reforms are watered down or blocked altogether.

2026.09.21 06:14

Good Morning from Germany, where voters have delivered a historic blow to the political mainstream. Merz’s CDU has been shut out of a state parliament for the first time in the Federal Republic’s history: just 4.9% in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, where the far-right AfD won 38.2%. In Berlin, The anti-capitalist Left topped the poll w/25.7%. As Germany’s electorate polarises, pressure on Chancellor Merz is mounting and so is the risk that much-needed growth reforms are watered down or blocked altogether.