Alternative for Germany takes the lead in elections in two states

In Sunday's elections in two German federal states, the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party posted record results, while Chancellor Friedrich Merz of the CDU admitted that the outcome was "cause for concern about the country's future."

According to forecasts from public broadcasters ARD and ZDF, AfD took 37–38% of the vote in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. The Social Democrats (SPD) of incumbent state premier Manuela Schwesig came in a close second, projected at 35.5–36.5%. Chancellor Merz's CDU is hovering right at the threshold for entering the state parliament, with just 5–5.5% of the vote.

A double blow for Merz

In Berlin, meanwhile, the same forecasts show the Left party winning with 24.5–26%. The CDU came a clear second with 20%, while AfD placed only third in the capital, with 13.5–16%. Final figures were being confirmed throughout the evening.

Before polling stations closed, it was already clear the evening could turn into a "double disaster" for Merz: while his party risked losing control of Berlin's city hall, pre-election polls suggested it might fail to enter parliament at all in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, scoring only around 6%. The ruling CDU leadership, headed by the chancellor, watched the results come in at party headquarters — Sunday's vote was being dubbed a genuine "election thriller."

A woman against the "blues," and a left-wing coalition

In Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, a tight race was expected between AfD and the Social Democrats. Schwesig built her campaign around positioning herself directly against the protest party, whose signature colour is blue, running under the slogan "A woman against the blues."

In Berlin, the main contest was between the Left party and the CDU, which currently governs the city in coalition with the SPD. The Left's goal is to form a coalition with the Social Democrats and the Greens. The final stretch of the campaign was overshadowed by accusations that the post-communist party has failed to sufficiently combat antisemitism within its own ranks.

According to Deutsche Welle, voter turnout rose noticeably in both states — this was also the first time sixteen-year-olds were eligible to vote there.

AfD leading nationwide

Shortly before this, AfD scored a decisive victory in state elections in Saxony-Anhalt, winning 43.8% of the vote. National polling shows the party leading across the country as well: the Wahltrend composite rating, which averages recent polls, put AfD at 28.1% as of September 16, followed by the CDU/CSU bloc at 19.6%, the Greens at 15.2%, the SPD at 12.5%, and the Left rounding out the field just above the five-percent threshold at 11.3%.

Source: novinky.cz