By Sunday evening it was already clear, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz's conservatives are set to oust the centre-left Social Democratic Party on Sunday in a closely watched state election in which the far right also made big gains. The far-right Alternative for Germany party (AfD) meanwhile won their top result in a western German state, with 19.5 percent. The AfD looks set to pose a bigger threat to the two centrist parties in several state elections in September in the country's ex-communist east. In September, voters in eastern Germany will take part in several state elections, with the AfD expected to perform particularly well and potentially claim outright majorities. AdvertisementAny alliance with the AfD remains taboo in the country, with all other parties refusing to cooperate with the far right.

Source: The Local March 23, 2026 08:04 UTC