Crisis for Friedrich Merz as AfD and The Left surge in popularity

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz's government faces yet another setback with right-wing populist AfD party securing first place in the state election of the northeastern state of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania.

AfD candidate Leif-Erik Holm and party co-leader Tino Chrupalla celebrated AfD's strong showing in the northeastern state.

Tally results show the right-wing party just slightly edging above the governing centre-left Social Democratic Party, with Chancellor Friedrich Merz's CDU party completely shut out of the state parliament.

It marks the AfD's strongest state election performance since their victory in Saxony-Anhalt.

Meanwhile, the far-left Die Linke party is projected to win around 25% of the vote in Berlin, ahead of the 19 percent secured by Merz's CDU.