AfD kept out as German state coalition deal agreed

The SPD, Greens and Die Linke agreed Tuesday to form a coalition government in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, keeping the far-right AfD out of power even though it topped September's regional election with 38 percent of the vote.

The centre-left SPD came second in the northeastern state. Chancellor Friedrich Merz's CDU recorded its worst result there and failed to enter the state parliament.

The agreement followed several weeks of talks in Schwerin. Germany's mainstream parties have maintained a policy of keeping the far right out of government.

The regional elections in September added pressure on Merz after poor results for his conservatives. Merz has said he will not resign and has vowed to keep his national coalition with the SPD together.