The Alternative for Germany (AfD) took first place in state elections in northeastern Germany on Sunday, exit polls showed, delivering a "disaster" for Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who vowed to push ahead with his reform agenda. The AfD was set to win 38,2% in the state of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, ahead of the centre-left Social Democrats on 35,5 % and far in front of Merz’s conservatives, who got 4,9 %.If confirmed, Sunday’s result would be the worst in any state election for Merz’s party since 1949. It would also be another first-place finish at state level in a month for the AfD party, which is shunned by mainstream parties but is topping national opinion polls. "It's a disaster," Merz said in televised remarks after the exit polls were published, but signalled that he would fight on as chancellor after speculation that a bad result could prompt him to resign. In another election in the capital Berlin that also took place on Sunday, the far-left Linke party was on 24.5%, while Merz’s conservatives were on 20% and the AfD also gained in strength, hitting 16%. Pressure mounts on Merz