Regional elections in Germany shouldn't always interest those outside the country, but the recent success of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) has turned the spotlight on the states of Berlin and Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, where polling was held on Sunday.
Earlier this month, AfD won the state of Saxony-Anhalt, falling just three seats short of an absolute majority. Should they form a coalition by gaining the support of a small party, the AfD would form a minority government, making it the first far-right party to govern a German state since World War II.
In Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Chancellor Friedrich Merz's party, CDU, is reportedly not the favourite as the race is primarily between SPD’s star candidate, and premier Manuela Schwesig and Leif-Erik Holm of the AfD.
The CDU is better placed in Berlin, but it faces a stiff challenge from the far-left Die Linke (The Left), which has made the housing crisis its main agenda.
AfD candidate Leif-Erik Holm sounded supremely confident. “We have put forward a clear platform. We want to govern; we want to emerge as the strongest force so that we can improve things across many areas."
The results will be closely watched in Berlin because of their implications for Merz and his CDU. Following the AfD’s success in Saxony-Anhalt, any further setbacks for the CDU could pile up pressure on the chancellor.
Even though federal elections aren’t due until 2029, there have been reports of calls for replacing Merz as chancellor, emerging from within his party.(This copy is compiled by Arun George)