The candidate for State Premier of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party Leif-Erik Holm stands in front of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania's State Premier and top candidate of the social democratic SPD party Manuela Schwesig during a TV debate at the television studio of ARD in Schwerin on September 20, 2026, after regional elections in the northeastern federal state of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. (Photo by Marcus Brandt / dpa Pool / AFP via Getty Images)

The candidate for State Premier of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party Leif-Erik Holm attends a TV debate at the television studio of ARD in Schwerin on September 20, 2026, after regional elections in the northeastern federal state of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. (Photo by Marcus Brandt / dpa Pool / AFP via Getty Images)

The candidate for State Premier of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party Leif-Erik Holm attends a TV debate at the television studio of ARD in Schwerin on September 20, 2026, after regional elections in the northeastern federal state of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. (Photo by Marcus Brandt / dpa Pool / AFP via Getty Images)

The candidate for State Premier of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party Leif-Erik Holm attends a TV debate at the television studio of ARD in Schwerin on September 20, 2026, after regional elections in the northeastern federal state of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. (Photo by Marcus Brandt / dpa Pool / AFP via Getty Images)

The candidate for State Premier of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party Leif-Erik Holm attends a TV debate at the television studio of ARD in Schwerin on September 20, 2026, after regional elections in the northeastern federal state of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. (Photo by Marcus Brandt / dpa Pool / AFP via Getty Images)

Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania's State Premier and top candidate of the social democratic SPD party Manuela Schwesig attends a TV debate at the television studio of ARD in Schwerin on September 20, 2026, after regional elections in the northeastern federal state of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. (Photo by Marcus Brandt / dpa Pool / AFP via Getty Images)

Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania's State Premier and top candidate of the social democratic SPD party Manuela Schwesig attends a TV debate at the television studio of ARD in Schwerin on September 20, 2026, after regional elections in the northeastern federal state of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. (Photo by Marcus Brandt / dpa Pool / AFP via Getty Images)

Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania's State Premier and top candidate of the social democratic SPD party Manuela Schwesig drinks water during 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)