German Chancellor Friedrich Merz's Christian Democratic Union (CDU) may face further defeats at the hands of the Alternative for Germany (AfD) in upcoming state elections, according to BFM.ru. The outlet reported on Friday that Merz could again lose ground in regional votes.
BFM.ru's headline points to Berlin and Pomerania as the contests in question. A separate BBC report, referenced in the same summary, described the situation as "the beginning of the end" and warned of new setbacks for Merz's party from the AfD in both Berlin and Pomerania.
Berlin is scheduled to hold elections over the weekend, according to Meduza. The Local Germany, cited by UA.NEWS, reported that roughly 851,000 foreigners in Berlin will not take part in the vote.
The reports come as Merz's CDU confronts pressure from the AfD at the state level. The framing of the BBC headline suggests the upcoming ballots are being watched as a potential turning point for the chancellor's party.
What to watch next: the results from Berlin and Pomerania, and whether they confirm the losses the reports anticipate for Merz's CDU.