Election in Rhineland-Palatinate: AfD achieves record result in western Germany

Election in Rhineland-Palatinate: AfD Breaks Records in Western Germany

The SPD faced another setback in the recent state elections, this time in Rhineland-Palatinate, where they dropped nearly nine percentage points and lost to the CDU. Preliminary projections from ARD and ZDF, based on Infratest dimap and Forschungsgruppe Wahlen data, indicate the CDU secured 30.6% of the vote, while the Social Democrats, who had led the state for three decades under premier Alexander Schweitzer, fell to 25.7%. The AfD emerged as the third-largest party with approximately 20% of the support, marking a significant rise.

For the right-wing populist AfD, this outcome represents their strongest showing in a state election within western Germany. The party’s surge of over eleven percentage points has positioned them as a formidable opposition force. Alice Weidel, the AfD leader, emphasized the importance of their role in the opposition on Sunday evening, stating,

“excellent opposition work.”

Meanwhile, the Greens captured 7.9%, becoming the fourth-largest group in the state parliament. The Free Democrats, previously part of the traffic-light coalition, are projected to fall below the threshold for parliamentary representation with around two percent. Similarly, the Left Party narrowly missed entry into the legislature, securing just over four percent.

Uncertainty lingered around the influence of postal votes, but current projections suggest only four parties will hold seats in the state parliament. The CDU is expected to appoint Gordon Schnieder, brother of Federal Transport Minister Patrick Schnieder, as the next state premier. A coalition with the SPD appears the most probable path forward. This result is viewed as a triumph for the federal CDU under Chancellor Friedrich Merz, following a close race in the campaign. Jens Spahn, the federal parliamentary group leader, called the win “historic” and highlighted it as a positive sign for national politics, expressing hope for a “tailwind” at the federal level.

Within the SPD, the impact of the loss has been profound. Party leader and Vice-Chancellor Lars Klingbeil initiated discussions on leadership changes after the election, while the SPD’s general secretary described the result as a “bitter setback.” Despite the CDU and Left Party’s modest gains, the governing parties collectively lost ground, signaling a shift in the political landscape. The AfD’s performance has underscored growing support for far-right ideologies in the region, raising questions about future alliances and challenges ahead.