German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has described his Christian Democratic Union’s performance in Sunday’s state election in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania as a “disaster,” after preliminary results showed a historic low for the party. The CDU has fared better in Berlin, but its result there still appears to have dashed its hopes of leading the next government.

The CDU received just 5.5% of the vote, according to an ARD exit poll, its worst results in a state election since the founding of the federal republic in 1949. This leaves the party just above the 5% threshold required to enter the regional parliament.

“The result in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania cannot be talked away, it’s a disaster,” Merz acknowledged during a press conference on Sunday evening. However, he still defended his government’s course, insisting that there “cannot be a return to the good old times.”

The Alternative for Germany party (AfD) is leading with 37%, ahead of the ruling Social Democrats (SPD) at 35.5%, according to the poll.

Merz’s party is faring better in Berlin but is still trailing the Left, which leads with 24.5%. The CDU is second with 20%, followed by the AfD at 16%, according to exit polls.

The preliminary results come two weeks after the AfD took first in Saxony-Anhalt, and amid mounting pressure on Merz over the CDU’s declining support. The chancellor called a meeting of the party leadership for Sunday evening to discuss the election results.