{"id":2153885,"date":"2026-09-20T11:43:29","date_gmt":"2026-09-20T08:43:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=2153885"},"modified":"2026-09-20T11:43:29","modified_gmt":"2026-09-20T08:43:29","slug":"germans-head-to-the-polls-in-state-elections-as-pressure-mounts-on-merz","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=2153885","title":{"rendered":"Germans head to the polls in state elections as pressure mounts on Merz"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>[analyse_image type=&#8221;featured&#8221; src=&#8221;https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/92\/02\/72\/1200x675_cmsv2_9f389790-f7dc-5f0d-bfce-4e6ae344d77b-9920272.jpg&#8221;]<\/p>\n<article id=\"abe-2927164-pos1-c-latest-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-1 m-modeDesktop-1 m-modeXL-1 the-media-object--has-video\" data-nid=\"2927164\" data-cid=\"9920271\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2927164-label-pos1-c-latest-stories\" 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src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/92\/03\/59\/189x106_cmsv2_1067a450-b036-55e6-817a-44425934f7f5-9920359.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Latest news bulletin | September 20th, 2026 \u2013 Midday\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    Top News Stories Today<\/p>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Latest news bulletin | September 20th, 2026 \u2013 Midday\n  <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2927163-pos4-c-latest-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-1 m-modeDesktop-1 m-modeXL-1 the-media-object--has-video\" data-nid=\"2927163\" data-cid=\"9920246\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2927163-label-pos4-c-latest-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/92\/02\/46\/189x106_cmsv2_6c3d2cdb-3d4b-5e04-a9f8-2a0b95353207-9920246.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"President of France Emmanuel Macron, right, gives a thumbs up as he shakes hands with Canada Prime Minister Mark Carney after delivering a joint statement at the Palais de l&apos;E\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    Europe News<\/p>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Macron touts relationship with Canada in Saint Pierre and Miquelon\n  <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2927164-pos1-c-latest-stories-sidebar\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2 the-media-object--has-video\" data-nid=\"2927164\" data-cid=\"9920271\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2927164-label-pos1-c-latest-stories-sidebar\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/92\/02\/71\/189x106_cmsv2_60bd47a4-de1d-5ebe-80c8-2b9e3031de0b-9920271.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"People walk in Red Square cloudy weather in Moscow, Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2026.\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    Europe News<\/p>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Moscow hit by &#8216;largest-scale attack&#8217; on capital so far, mayor says\n  <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2927175-pos2-c-latest-stories-sidebar\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2\" data-nid=\"2927175\" data-cid=\"9920307\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2927175-label-pos2-c-latest-stories-sidebar\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/92\/03\/07\/189x106_cmsv2_8bfb0390-527d-5d0c-b2e9-1d293db2b860-9920307.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney addresses the European Parliament in Strasbourg, France \" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    Europe Today<\/p>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    EU associate membership: The name is irrelevant, the politics aren\u2019t\n  <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2927179-pos3-c-latest-stories-sidebar\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2 the-media-object--has-video\" data-nid=\"2927179\" data-cid=\"9920359\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2927179-label-pos3-c-latest-stories-sidebar\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/92\/03\/59\/189x106_cmsv2_1067a450-b036-55e6-817a-44425934f7f5-9920359.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Latest news bulletin | September 20th, 2026 \u2013 Midday\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    Top News Stories Today<\/p>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Latest news bulletin | September 20th, 2026 \u2013 Midday\n  <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2927163-pos4-c-latest-stories-sidebar\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2 the-media-object--has-video\" data-nid=\"2927163\" data-cid=\"9920246\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2927163-label-pos4-c-latest-stories-sidebar\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/92\/02\/46\/189x106_cmsv2_6c3d2cdb-3d4b-5e04-a9f8-2a0b95353207-9920246.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"President of France Emmanuel Macron, right, gives a thumbs up as he shakes hands with Canada Prime Minister Mark Carney after delivering a joint statement at the Palais de l&apos;E\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    Europe News<\/p>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Macron touts relationship with Canada in Saint Pierre and Miquelon\n  <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article class=\"helper-site-row o-article-newsy\">\n<div class=\"helper-site-container o-article-newsy__container\">\n<div class=\"o-article-newsy__main\">\n<header class=\"h-grid o-article-newsy__main__header\">\n<nav aria-label=\"Breadcrumbs\" class=\"c-article-breadcrumbs\">\n<div id=\"adb-article-breadcrumb\" class=\"c-article-breadcrumbs__list\">\n<p>                          Europe<\/p>\n<p>                          Europe News<\/p><\/div>\n<\/nav>\n<h1 class=\"c-article-redesign-title\">\n                            Germans head to the polls in state elections as pressure mounts on Merz<\/h1>\n<div class=\"c-article-image-video u-position-relative \">\n<div class=\"js-superdiv u-aspect-ratio-16x9 u-position-relative \" data-controller=\"video-player\" data-sponsored=\"Partner content\">\n<div class=\"js-playercontrols u-height-full u-position-absolute u-width-full is-autoplaying\" data-translations=\"{&quot;error&quot;:&quot;This video could not be played.&quot;,&quot;geoblocked&quot;:&quot;Sorry, this content is not available in your country&quot;,&quot;slow&quot;:&quot;This is taking longer than usual&quot;}\">\n<div class=\"js-loadtrigger js-loadtrigger__button c-loadtrigger__button\" role=\"status\"><span class=\"js-loadtrigger__label c-loadtrigger__label u-visually-hidden\">Loading the video<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"js-poster-img c-article-media__img\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/92\/02\/72\/1536x864_cmsv2_9f389790-f7dc-5f0d-bfce-4e6ae344d77b-9920272.jpg\" width=\"1536\" height=\"864\" loading=\"eager\" alt=\"A man casts his ballots for the Berlin state election in Berlin, Germany, Sunday, Sept. 20, 2026.\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"c-article-caption u-position-absolute\"><i id=\"article-caption-content\" class=\"c-article-caption__content\"><span class=\"c-article-caption__text\"><br \/>\n              A man casts his ballots for the Berlin state election in Berlin, Germany, Sunday, Sept. 20, 2026.<br \/>\n                    <span class=\"u-color-white\">&#8211;\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"c-article-caption__copyright\">Copyright\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"c-article-caption__credit\">Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved<\/span><\/span><\/i><\/div>\n<div class=\"c-article-image-copyright c-article-image-copyright--novideo\">\n      Copyright\u00a0Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved\n  <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/header>\n<div class=\"h-grid o-article-newsy__main__body u-article-content\">\n<div class=\"o-article-newsy__contributors-publication-date\">\n<div class=\"c-article-contributors\">\n  By&amp;nbspNathan Rennolds\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-article-publication-date\" data-timestamp=\"1789904609\">\n         Published on<br \/>\n            <time datetime=\"2026-09-20 13:43:29 +02:00\">20\/09\/2026 &#8211; 13:43 GMT+2<\/time><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-article-share-comment u-align-items-center u-display-flex\"><span class=\"c-article-share-comment__links u-align-items-center u-display-flex u-justify-content-center js-c-article-share-comment-share\"><span class=\"c-article-share-comment__label\">Share<\/span><\/span><span class=\"c-article-share-comment__label\">Comments<\/span><span class=\"c-article-share-comment__label c-article-share-comment__label--always\">Add Euronews on Google<\/span><\/div>\n<div 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height=\"24\" alt=\"threads\" loading=\"lazy\"><span>Threads<\/span><\/span><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/vector\/social-icons\/article-redesign-threads.svg\" width=\"48\" height=\"48\" alt=\"threads\" class=\"u-show-for-desktop\" loading=\"lazy\"><span class=\"u-display-flex u-gap-1 u-show-for-mobile-only\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/vector\/social-icons\/article-redesign-whatsapp.svg\" width=\"24\" height=\"24\" alt=\"whatsapp\" loading=\"lazy\"><span>Whatsapp<\/span><\/span><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/vector\/social-icons\/article-redesign-whatsapp.svg\" width=\"48\" height=\"48\" alt=\"whatsapp\" class=\"u-show-for-desktop\" loading=\"lazy\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"c-article-share-comment-popup__content__embed_container u-display-none\"><span class=\"c-article-share-comment-popup__content__embed__tooltip\"><br \/>\n                            Copy\/paste the article video embed link below:<br \/>\n                        <\/span><span class=\"c-article-share-comment-popup__content__embed u-display-flex\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/vector\/icon-copy-to-clipboard.svg\" width=\"16\" height=\"16\" alt=\"Copy to clipboard\" class=\"u-cursor-pointer js-c-article-share-comment-copy\" loading=\"lazy\"><span class=\"c-article-share-comment-popup__content__embed--success-copied u-display-none js-c-article-share-comment-video-embed-success-link-copied\"><br \/>\n                                Copied<br \/>\n                            <\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h2 class=\"c-article-summary\">\n        The AfD comes into Sunday&#8217;s vote fresh off the back of its election success in Saxony-Anhalt earlier this month and will be hoping for further gains.<br \/>\n    <\/h2>\n<div class=\"c-article-content js-article-content\">\n<p>Germans are heading to the polls on Sunday in two state elections that could prove decisive for Chancellor Friedrich Merz&#8217;s future.<\/p>\n<div>\n<div class=\"c-ad u-show-for-mobile-only\">\n<div class=\"c-ad__placeholder\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"c-ad__placeholder__logo\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/logos\/logo-euronews-stacked-outlined-72x72-grey-9.svg\" width=\"72\" height=\"72\" alt loading=\"lazy\"><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-ad u-show-for-desktop\">\n<div class=\"c-ad__placeholder\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"c-ad__placeholder__logo\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/logos\/logo-euronews-stacked-outlined-72x72-grey-9.svg\" width=\"72\" height=\"72\" alt loading=\"lazy\"><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>In Berlin, Merz&#8217;s ruling Christian Democratic Union (CDU) is facing a close fight against Die Linke, which has strong support among young people and has pledged measures to tackle the housing crisis. <\/p>\n<p>In the coastal state of Mecklenburg\u2013Western Pomerania in northeastern Germany, the main race is between the Social Democratic Party (SPD) and the hard-right, anti-immigration Alternative for Germany (AfD).<\/p>\n<p>The AfD comes into Sunday&#8217;s vote fresh off the back of its election success in Saxony-Anhalt earlier this month and will be hoping for further gains. <\/p>\n<p>However, the party faces a sterner test in &#8220;MeckPomm,&#8221; where it will come up against the SPD&#8217;s Manuela Schwesig, who has served as minister-president of the state since 2017.<\/p>\n<p>The latest polling figures show Die Linke edging ahead of the CDU in the city-state of Berlin, while the AfD leads the SPD in Mecklenburg\u2013Western Pomerania &#8211; with the CDU flirting with the 5% hurdle required to remain in state parliament.<\/p>\n<p>Gains for the far-right or far-left would heap pressure on Merz, who became chancellor in May 2025 and has seen his popularity continue to decline.<\/p>\n<p>Moritz Lembke-Oezer, 43, summed up that feeling while speaking to the AFP news agency outside a polling station to the south of Berlin, saying that while he feared the vote could benefit the AfD, he hoped it would see the CDU &#8220;punished.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Maybe then Friedrich Merz will be gone,&#8221; he said, adding that he planned to vote for Die Linke because of the far-left party&#8217;s vows to address the housing issue.<\/p>\n<p>Speaking to AFP outside a polling station in Schwerin, the state capital of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, pensioner Peter Sommer added: &#8220;I&#8217;d be in favour of the AfD winning, because then they&#8217;ll have to prove themselves: either something will happen, or it&#8217;ll be the last time they get any votes.&#8221;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<footer class=\"perf-cv-auto c-article-contributors c-article-contributors-supplementary u-margin-top-2 u-padding-top-2\">\n<p>Additional sources<strong> \u2022 AFP<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/footer>\n<p>                                  Go to accessibility shortcuts<\/p>\n<div class=\"c-article-share-comment u-align-items-center u-display-flex\"><span class=\"c-article-share-comment__links u-align-items-center u-display-flex u-justify-content-center js-c-article-share-comment-share\"><span class=\"c-article-share-comment__label\">Share<\/span><\/span><span class=\"c-article-share-comment__label\">Comments<\/span><span class=\"c-article-share-comment__label c-article-share-comment__label--always\">Add Euronews on Google<\/span><\/div>\n<div id=\"adb-article-you-might-also-like\" class=\"perf-cv-auto c-article-you-might-also-like\">\n<h2 class=\"c-article-you-might-also-like__title\">\n        Read more<br \/>\n      <\/h2>\n<div class=\"c-article-you-might-also-like__item\">\n<h3>\n<p>                  Tense Berlin election finale: who is to emerge strongest in the capital?<\/p>\n<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-article-you-might-also-like__item\">\n<h3>\n<p>                  Germans head to the polls in state elections as pressure mounts on Merz<\/p>\n<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-article-you-might-also-like__item\">\n<h3>\n<p>                  Moscow hit by &#8216;largest-scale attack&#8217; on capital so far, mayor says <\/p>\n<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"perf-cv-auto\">\n<ul id=\"adb-article-tags\" class=\"c-tags-list\">\n<li class=\"c-tags-list__item\">\n<section class=\"tc-cta\" data-twig-component=\"Cta-default\">\n  Berlin<br \/>\n<\/section>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"c-tags-list__item\">\n<section class=\"tc-cta\" data-twig-component=\"Cta-default\">\n  Germany<br \/>\n<\/section>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"c-tags-list__item\">\n<section class=\"tc-cta\" data-twig-component=\"Cta-default\">\n  Election<br \/>\n<\/section>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tp-vuukle\">\n<div class=\"c-vuukle-skeleton\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n<div 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Saint Pierre and Miquelon<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-top-stories__item\">\n<article id=\"abe-2927175-pos4-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2 the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2927175\" data-cid=\"9920307\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2927175-label-pos4-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/92\/03\/07\/320x180_cmsv2_8bfb0390-527d-5d0c-b2e9-1d293db2b860-9920307.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney addresses the European Parliament in Strasbourg, France \" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    EU associate membership: The name is irrelevant, the politics aren\u2019t<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/div>\n<div 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on capital so far, mayor says<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2927163-pos3-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2 the-media-object--has-video the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2927163\" data-cid=\"9920246\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2927163-label-pos3-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/92\/02\/46\/320x180_cmsv2_6c3d2cdb-3d4b-5e04-a9f8-2a0b95353207-9920246.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"President of France Emmanuel Macron, right, gives a thumbs up as he shakes hands with Canada Prime Minister Mark Carney after delivering a joint statement at the Palais de l&apos;E\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Macron touts relationship with Canada in Saint Pierre and Miquelon<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2927175-pos4-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2 the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2927175\" data-cid=\"9920307\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2927175-label-pos4-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/92\/03\/07\/320x180_cmsv2_8bfb0390-527d-5d0c-b2e9-1d293db2b860-9920307.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney addresses the European Parliament in Strasbourg, France \" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    EU associate membership: The name is irrelevant, the politics aren\u2019t<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2927125-pos5-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2 the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2927125\" data-cid=\"9920156\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2927125-label-pos5-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/92\/01\/56\/320x180_cmsv2_cf272d61-7151-5608-bc03-a2bd25388e23-9920156.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Supporters of Yemen\u2019s Houthi rebels raise Yemeni, Lebanese and Iranian flags during a rally in support of the group.\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    US embassies issue security alerts over Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2927146-pos6-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2 the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2927146\" data-cid=\"9920202\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2927146-label-pos6-top-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/92\/02\/02\/320x180_cmsv2_5a655a13-32ad-5888-b5b3-533e00373fcd-9920202.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"US President Donald Trump walks to board Marine One on the Ellipse near the White House, Friday, Sept. 18, 2026, in Washington\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    CNN, MS NOW, POLITICO journalists denied access to the White House<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2926053-pos1-mostViewed\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-3 m-modeDesktop-3 m-modeXL-3 the-media-object--has-video the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2926053\" data-cid=\"9918900\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Russians leave before election ends, fearing mobilisation to follow<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2927010-pos2-mostViewed\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-3 m-modeDesktop-3 m-modeXL-3 the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2927010\" data-cid=\"9919877\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Thousands of migrants return to beaches in Ceuta as port camp fills up<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2926804-pos3-mostViewed\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-3 m-modeDesktop-3 m-modeXL-3 the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2926804\" data-cid=\"9918869\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    EU fuel prices hit records; ECB experts say diesel margins yet to peak<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2926226-pos4-mostViewed\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-3 m-modeDesktop-3 m-modeXL-3 the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2926226\" data-cid=\"9919770\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Berlin election finale: who is to emerge strongest in the capital?<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2926888-pos5-mostViewed\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-3 m-modeDesktop-3 m-modeXL-3 the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2926888\" data-cid=\"9919750\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    A ticking &#8216;mercury bomb&#8217;? Ancient Nazi U-boat lies off Norway<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<div class=\"articleBody\" data-key=\"articleBody\">Germans are heading to the polls on Sunday in two state elections that could prove decisive for Chancellor Friedrich Merz&#8217;s future.In Berlin, Merz&#8217;s ruling Christian Democratic Union (CDU) is facing a close fight against Die Linke, which has strong support among young people and has pledged measures to tackle the housing crisis.In the coastal state of Mecklenburg\u2013Western Pomerania in northeastern Germany, the main race is between the Social Democratic Party (SPD) and the hard-right, anti-immigration Alternative for Germany (AfD).The AfD comes into Sunday&#8217;s vote fresh off the back of its election success in Saxony-Anhalt earlier this month and will be hoping for further gains.However, the party faces a sterner test in &#8220;MeckPomm,&#8221; where it will come up against the SPD&#8217;s Manuela Schwesig, who has served as minister-president of the state since 2017.The latest polling figures show Die Linke edging ahead of the CDU in the city-state of Berlin, while the AfD leads the SPD in Mecklenburg\u2013Western Pomerania &#8211; with the CDU flirting with the 5% hurdle required to remain in state parliament.Gains for the far-right or far-left would heap pressure on Merz, who became chancellor in May 2025 and has seen his popularity continue to decline.Moritz Lembke-Oezer, 43, summed up that feeling while speaking to the AFP news agency outside a polling station to the south of Berlin, saying that while he feared the vote could benefit the AfD, he hoped it would see the CDU &#8220;punished.&#8221;&#8221;Maybe then Friedrich Merz will be gone,&#8221; he said, adding that he planned to vote for Die Linke because of the far-left party&#8217;s vows to address the housing issue.Speaking to AFP outside a polling station in Schwerin, the state capital of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, pensioner Peter Sommer added: &#8220;I&#8217;d be in favour of the AfD winning, because then they&#8217;ll have to prove themselves: either something will happen, or it&#8217;ll be the last time they get any votes.&#8221;<\/div>\n<p>[analyse_source url=&#8221;https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/my-europe\/2026\/09\/20\/germans-head-to-the-polls-in-state-elections-as-pressure-mounts-on-merz&#8221;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>[analyse_image type=&#8221;featured&#8221; src=&#8221;https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/92\/02\/72\/1200x675_cmsv2_9f389790-f7dc-5f0d-bfce-4e6ae344d77b-9920272.jpg&#8221;] Europe News Moscow hit by &#8216;largest-scale attack&#8217; on capital so far, mayor says Europe Today EU associate membership: The name is irrelevant, the politics aren\u2019t Top News Stories Today Latest news bulletin | September 20th, 2026 \u2013 Midday Europe News Macron touts relationship with Canada in Saint Pierre and Miquelon Europe News [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[90],"tags":[226,36],"class_list":["post-2153885","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-international","tag-crawlmanager","tag-euronews-com"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2153885","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2153885"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2153885\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2153885"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2153885"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2153885"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}