Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania's State Premier and top candidate of the social democratic SPD party Manuela Schwesig (L) speaks on stage as German Chancellor Friedrich Merz appears on a screen in a TV studio prior to a TV debate 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)