Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania's State Premier and top candidate of the social democratic SPD party Manuela Schwesig (L) speaks on stage after the announcement of the first exit poll results on public television at the SPD's election party in the Schwerin Castle, on September 20, 2026, following north-eastern Germany's Mecklenburg-Western-Pomerania's state elections. (Photo by Ronny HARTMANN / AFP via Getty Images)