Voters in Berlin and Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania began voting Sunday in regional elections that could increase pressure on Chancellor Friedrich Merz and his Christian Democratic Union (CDU). The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) is seeking further gains two weeks after winning 43.8% in Saxony-Anhalt, its strongest result in a state election; the CDU received about 17% there. Merz has been chancellor for 16 months, and his approval rating has fallen to roughly 13% to 14% in recent surveys [france24.com][aljazeera.com][dw.com][dw.com][rtp.pt][hurriyetdailynews.com][standartnews.com][teraz.sk]. In Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, polls put the center-left Social Democrats (SPD) and AfD in a close contest, while the CDU risks falling below the 5% threshold for representation. In Berlin, Die Linke leads the CDU narrowly in several polls, with the AfD also positioned to make gains. Merz called a CDU crisis meeting, cleared his schedule and canceled a planned trip to the United Nations General Assembly to respond to the results. He has resisted calls to resign as he struggles to advance promised economic and social-welfare reforms with the SPD [dw.com][hurriyetdailynews.com][punchng.com][theguardian.com][digi24.ro]. Highlights: • Berlin polling: A ZDF poll placed Die Linke at 22%, CDU at 20%, AfD at 18%, the Greens at 15% and SPD at 12% [standartnews.com][dw.com]. • Eastern race: A ZDF survey put SPD at 37%, AfD at 36%, Die Linke at 9%, CDU at 6% and the Greens at 5% in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania [hurriyetdailynews.com][cna.com.tw]. • Voting expansion: For the first time in both elections, 16- and 17-year-olds were eligible to vote [dw.com][idnes.cz]. • Government options: AfD gains are not expected to produce a governing majority in either state because established parties have ruled out coalition cooperation with it [dw.com][rtp.pt][tt.com]. Perspectives: Friedrich Merz: A severe CDU defeat could revive discussion of replacing Merz or even holding snap elections, although early elections remain considered unlikely [bursa.ro][digi24.ro]. (Bursa) Manuela Schwesig: The Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania SPD premier campaigned against the AfD and sought to separate her state record from the unpopular federal coalition [ertnews.gr][teraz.sk]. (ERT News) Sources: • Germans vote in elections threatening fresh blow to Merz - france24.com • Germany braces for key state elections where far right party AfD seeks another breakthrough - france24.com • Germany’s Berlin, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania states head to polls - aljazeera.com • Germans Are Voting Again, Amid a Far-Right Surge. Here’s What to Watch. - nytimes.com • Merz under pressure as two more German states go to the polls - straitstimes.com • 'In Germany, what was designed to protect democracy now fuels extremism' - lemonde.fr • Future of German chancellor hangs in the balance as two states go to polls - theguardian.com • Germany: Polls open in two key state elections - dw.com • Germany: Is it possible to replace the chancellor? - dw.com • Germany heads to polls - punchng.com • Merz faces key test as 2 German states hold elections with eyes on the far-right AfD - independent.co.uk • Germany's chancellor set for fresh election pain - perthnow.com.au • Germans vote in state polls risking blow to Chancellor Merz - hurriyetdailynews.com • Opnieuw verkiezingen in Duitsland: waarom zijn ze zo belangrijk? En wat staat er op het spel voor bondskanselier Merz? - nieuwsblad.be • Almanya'da iki eyalette seçim yapılıyor - ensonhaber.com • Alegeri în două landuri din Germania. AfD vizează noi câștiguri, în timp ce viitorul politic al lui Friedrich Merz este în balanţă - digi24.ro • Alegeri în două landuri din Germania. Scrutinul are loc într-un moment în care poziția cancelarului Merz este slăbită după victoria AfD din Saxonia-Anhal. Un rezultat slab al CDU ar putea duce la pierderea puterii de către Merz. - biziday.ro • Alegeri în alte două landuri din Germania. Miză mare pentru viitorul cancelarului Friedrich Merz - hotnews.ro • Германия гласува под напрежение. Два вота могат да разтърсят Мерц - standartnews.com • 德國兩州選舉 梅爾茨面臨考驗 極右翼另類選擇黨料再有進帳 - bastillepost.com • Germans go to polls in eastern state with SPD, AfD in tight race - aa.com.tr • Elecciones en Alemania: el empuje de AfD pone a prueba a la izquierda en Berlín y Mecklemburgo-Pomerania - infobae.com • Alegeri în două landuri din Germania. Poziția lui cancelarului Merz, slăbită de victoria AfD din Saxonia-Anhalt - stirileprotv.ro • Meklenbursko a Berlín volí. AfD doufá v další výhru, Merz je nad propastí - idnes.cz • The Guardian: Alegeri regionale ďż˝n douďż˝ landuri germane; viitorul politic al lui Friedrich Merz, ďż˝n balan�� - bursa.ro • Future of German chancellor hangs in the balance as two states go to polls | Germany - reddit.com • 德國邦議會選舉登場　極右極左勢力壯大恐衝擊梅爾茨 - cna.com.tw • Alegeri regionale în Germania: AfD – extrema dreaptă – amenință să câștige în Mecklenburg-Pomerania Occidentală, iar CDU este în dificultate la Berlin / Un nou test pentru cancelarul Friedrich Merz - g4media.ro • Almanya'da kritik seçimler: Merz için sandıkta varoluş sınavı - bbc.com • Dois estados alemães vão a votos com extrema-direita a subir - rtp.pt • Alemania afronta otras dos elecciones regionales con la sombra de una nueva victoria de la ultraderecha - lasexta.com • Elections régionales en Allemagne : les scrutins de la dernière chance pour Friedrich Merz ? - nouvelobs.com • Ziua care îi poate decide soarta cancelarului Merz. Germania votează din nou, iar AfD și stânga radicală amenință CDU cu o nouă lovitură - mediafax.ro • Allemagne. Le chancelier Friedrich Merz joue son avenir aux élections régionales ce dimanche - vosgesmatin.fr • German chancellor Friedrich Merz faces mounting criticism ahead of September 20 regional elections - lemonde.fr • Γερμανία: Διπλές κάλπες σε Βερολίνο και Μεκλεμβούργο, διπλός «πονοκέφαλος» για Μερτς - topontiki.gr • Германија гласа во две покраини, нов тест за Мерц - makfax.com.mk • Γερμανία: Κρίσιμες εκλογές αύριο σε Βερολίνο και Μεκλεμβούργο - tvopen.gr • İki eyalette seçim: Almanya Başbakanı Merz için kader günü - dw.com • Tysklands kansler Merz ser ind i tre nye chok - politiken.dk • Nuevas elecciones regionales en Alemania amenazan con pulverizar el poco capital político que le queda a Friedrich Merz - eldiario.es • Германия гласува: Мерц под натиск, "Алтернатива за Германия" набира сила - btvnovinite.bg • Vyhraje AfD v další zemi? A v Berlíně islamistická Levice? Rýsuje se Merzův černý scénář - echo24.cz • Niemcy znów głosują. AfD prowadzi w jednym landzie, Lewica w Berlinie - bankier.pl • Evropa strepi od današnjih izbora u Njemačkoj: Hoće li Merz preživjeti najteži politički test do sada? - klix.ba • Alegeri în Germania: CDU riscă să nu treacă pragul electoral în Mecklenburg-Pomerania de Vest, iar AfD crește în sondaje - ziarulnational.md • En Allemagne, des élections régionales à haut risque pour le chancelier Friedrich Merz au bord de la crise politique - lesechos.fr • Elections régionales en Allemagne : Friedrich Merz peut-il survivre à une nouvelle débâcle ? - lexpress.fr • Alegeri în Germania. Ascensiunea AfD și riscul strategiei lui Merz. Analist: „Nu mai bine aleg originalul?" - adevarul.ro • Němci volí v Berlíně a Meklenbursku. Výsledek může oslabit kancléře Merze - aktualne.cz • Voliči v krajinských voľbách rozhodnú aj o budúcnosti kancelára Merza - teraz.sk • Allemagne : les bureaux de vote ouvrent dans un scrutin sous haute tension pour Friedrich Merz - lalibre.be • Viktig valg i tyske delstater - nrk.no • Izborni dan u Njemačkoj: Može li AfD do nove pobjede? - vijesti.ba • Nemčija gre v nedeljo na dvojne deželne volitve, bo AfD ponovila svoj uspeh? - nova24tv.si • Njemačka glasa, Merz pod pritiskom - hrt.hr • Højrefløjsparti jagter sejr i flere tyske delstater - borsen.dk • Избори у двије савезне државе у Њемачкој, нови тест за ЦДУ Фридриха Мерца - rtrs.tv • Merz under pressure as AfD gains and state elections loom - swedenherald.com • Το μέλλον του Γερμανού καγκελάριου κρέμεται από μία κλωστή: Κρας τεστ οι δύο σημερινές εκλογές - newsbomb.gr • Γερμανία: Τοπικές εκλογές με εθνικές προεκτάσεις – Πολλαπλά μηνύματα για τον Μερτς και τη δημοκρατία - ertnews.gr • Merkelig vezet a német belpolitika válsága – esélylatolgatás a vasárnapi választás előtt - hvg.hu • Warum die Wahlen in zwei deutschen Bundesländern am Sonntag brisant sind - tt.com • Γερμανία: Κρίσιμες εκλογές στο Μεκλεμβούργο – Δυτική Πομερανία – Μονοψήφια τα ποσοστά του CDU στις δημοσκοπήσεις - naftemporiki.gr • Merza čekaju nove izborne muke dok AfD cilja na novu pobjedu - fena.ba • IZBORI U DVE SAVEZNE DRŽAVE U NEMAČKOj: Novi test za CDU Fridriha Merca - novosti.rs • Almanya için en kritik seçim - milliyet.com.tr • Après sa victoire en Saxe, l'AfD a le vent dans le dos à Berlin et dans le Mecklembourg - rts.ch • ドイツ 首都と北東部の州で議会選挙へ「極右」が支持伸ばすか - web.nhk • Jämn strid mellan AfD och Socialdemokraterna - sverigesradio.se --- 📰 Story aggregated by Kagi News