In a surprising outcome in the Mecklenburg-Vorpommern parliamentary elections, the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party emerged victorious, while the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) led by Friedrich Merz failed to surpass the 5% electoral threshold. Merz described the results as a "catastrophe." The AfD also led in Saxony-Anhalt, approaching an absolute majority. AfD co-leader Alice Weidel called for Germany to secure Russian gas supplies, urged the lifting of sanctions on Russia, proposed limiting immigration, reassessing relations with the European Union, and ending military aid to Kyiv.