Germany's political landscape is facing new pressure after a series of state elections delivered major setbacks for Chancellor Friedrich Merz's CDU.

In Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, the conservatives failed to clear the 5% threshold needed to enter parliament, while the far-right AfD secured another state election victory. In Berlin, the Left Party emerged as the strongest force.

DW takes a closer look with Olaf Böhnke, Managing Director in Germany of Rasmussen Global, the geopolitical advisory firm of former NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen.