In Germany's northeastern state of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, a regional election has become a key test for the country’s political future. State Premier Manuela Schwesig, nicknamed the "lady in red," is fighting to keep the center-left Social Democratic Party (SPD) in power as the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) seeks another breakthrough in eastern Germany.

DW meets voters frustrated by rising living costs, migration, and federal politics, while Chancellor Friedrich Merz's conservatives face mounting pressure. The vote highlights growing challenges for Germany's traditional parties.