German State Election: Merz's Conservatives Lead in Rheinland-Pfalz, Coalition Talks Begin

In the Rheinland-Pfalz state election on March 22, 2026, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz's conservative CDU party is leading according to forecasts and prognoses, ahead of the SPD. With half of the eligible voters already having cast their ballots, discussions are now turning to potential coalition formations, with an interactive calculator available to explore mathematical possibilities.