frozen snapshot — 2026-09-20 · see today →
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Friedrich Merz

What's on Friedrich Merz's mind?

read fresh this morning at 6
34%20%15%9%22%
the two regional elections 34% the far-right advance 20% half of Germany expecting his exit 15% · newthe fuel discount before the vote 9% · neweverything else 22%
#1
Two States Vote, One Chancellor on the Line

Berlin and Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania are voting today, and every wire story about it is really about Merz's job.

German elections under way which could decide fate of Chancellor Merz

BBC · 2026-09-20
our translation

he is not on either ballot and he is the only name that matters tonight - two state results will be read as a verdict on him, and he has stopped pretending otherwise

polls open today in two statesvery sure · 3 sources
#2
The AfD Goes Hunting for Two More Regions
AfD in contention in both statesvery sure · 3 sources
#3
Nearly Half of Germans Expect Him Gone by New Year
new — poll: half expect exit this yearpretty sure · 3 sources
#4
Petrol Gets Cheaper One Day Before Polls Open
new — cabinet approved cut day before votepretty sure · 2 sources
sunday, september 20
Wait for the 6pm exit polls like everybody else(safe bet)
Draft two concession lines and one survival line(safe bet)
Phone the Berlin and Schwerin lead candidates tonight(safe bet)
Have an answer ready for the step-down question(reported)

rebuilt from the public schedule, pool reports & old habits — the rest is educated guessing

The source

German states go to the polls in high-stakes test for Friedrich Merz

news.google.com · 2026-09-20

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