German Chancellor Friedrich Merz appears on a screen in a TV studio prior to a TV debate at the television studio in Schwerin on September 20, 2026, after regional elections in the northeastern federal state of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. (Photo by Marcus Brandt / POOL / AFP via Getty Images)

Supporters of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) party watch as German Chancellor Friedrich Merz makes a televised address shown on public television after the release of the exit polls in the regional elections on September 20, 2026, in Schwerin in the northeastern federal state of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party made strong gains in two state elections, in Berlin and Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, on September 20, according to exit polls by public broadcasters ARD and ZDF. (Photo by Gregor Fischer / AFP via Getty Images)

Co-leader of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party Alice Weidel (C-R) and AfD top candidate for Berlin Kristin Brinker (L-R) react at the announcement of the first exit poll results on public television at the electoral evening event of the Germany's far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party following Berlin's state elections in the House of Representatives in Berlin on September 20, 2026. (Photo by RALF HIRSCHBERGER / AFP via Getty Images)

Candidate for State Premier of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party Leif-Erik Holm (L) and co-chair of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party Enrico Schult stand in front of a screen showing German Chancellor and leader of Germany's Christian Democratic Union (CDU) Friedrich Merz delivering a statement after the announcement of the first exit poll results on public television at the AfD's election party following Mecklenburg-Western-Pomerania's state elections in Schwerin, north-eastern Germany on September 20, 2026. (Photo by John MACDOUGALL / AFP via Getty Images)

TV host and journalist Joerg Schoenenborn comments the results after exit polls prior to a TV debate at the television studio in Schwerin on September 20, 2026, after regional elections in the northeastern federal state of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. (Photo by Marcus Brandt / POOL / AFP via Getty Images)

Candidate for State Premier of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party Leif-Erik Holm (L) and co-chair of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party Enrico Schult stand in front of a screen showing German Chancellor and leader of Germany's Christian Democratic Union (CDU) Friedrich Merz delivering a statement after the announcement of the first exit poll results on public television at the AfD's election party following Mecklenburg-Western-Pomerania's state elections in Schwerin, north-eastern Germany on September 20, 2026. (Photo by John MACDOUGALL / AFP via Getty Images)

Candidate for State Premier of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party Leif-Erik Holm (L) and co-chair of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party Enrico Schult stand in front of a screen showing German Chancellor and leader of Germany's Christian Democratic Union (CDU) Friedrich Merz delivering a statement after the announcement of the first exit poll results on public television at the AfD's election party following Mecklenburg-Western-Pomerania's state elections in Schwerin, north-eastern Germany on September 20, 2026. (Photo by John MACDOUGALL / AFP via Getty Images)

TV host and journalist Joerg Schoenenborn comments the results after exit polls prior to a TV debate at the television studio in Schwerin on September 20, 2026, after regional elections in the northeastern federal state of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. (Photo by Marcus Brandt / POOL / AFP via Getty Images)