France, Sept. 20 -- Exit polls by public broadcaster ARD on Sunday night indicated that Metz's centre-right CDU came in with just 5.5 percent percent in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania.

It's the lowest result since World War II for the party in any state, with the party barely crossing the threshold to enter the state parliament.

The anti-migration, Russia-friendly Alternative for Germany (AfD) party was set to win 37 percent, ahead of the centre-left Social Democrats (SPD) on 35.5 percent.

Merz acknowledged the CDU's result as a "disaster" but struck a defiant note, rejecting any retreat from his government's reform agenda.

"The reforms have to come," he said. "I am taking on this responsibility, because I want to move our country forw...