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

Rhineland-Palatinate Election: AfD Sets Record in Western Germany

The Social Democratic Party (SPD) faced another significant setback in the recent state election of Rhineland-Palatinate, following their earlier poor showing in Baden-Württemberg. With the results now emerging, the SPD has lost ground, dropping by nearly nine percentage points and failing to secure victory against the Christian Democratic Union (CDU).

According to projections from ARD and ZDF, based on Infratest dimap and Forschungsgruppe Wahlen data, the CDU emerged as the leading party with 30.6% of the vote. The SPD, which has led the state government for three and a half decades under Premier Alexander Schweitzer, came in second with just 25.7%. Meanwhile, the far-right AfD made a notable surge, securing around 20% of the vote and positioning itself as a formidable opposition force.

Analysts noted the AfD’s substantial increase of over eleven percentage points, marking their strongest performance in a state election within western Germany. This rise contrasts with the modest gains of the CDU and Left Party, which each added two to three points. The Greens, meanwhile, fell to 7.9%, becoming the fourth-largest party. The Free Democrats, part of the state’s traffic-light coalition, narrowly missed parliamentary representation with approximately two percent, while the Left Party also fell short, securing just over four percent.

“This is a historic win for our party,” said Jens Spahn, the CDU’s federal parliamentary group leader, during an ARD interview. “It signals strong momentum for national politics.” He also expressed hope that the success would create a favorable political environment at the federal level.

Despite the CDU’s triumph, the SPD remains in turmoil, with party leader Lars Klingbeil announcing internal discussions over leadership and strategy. The SPD’s general secretary described the outcome as a “bitter setback,” reflecting the party’s frustration. For the federal CDU, however, the state victory is seen as a positive development, especially after a closely contested campaign in Rhineland-Palatinate.

The next state premier is expected to be Gordon Schnieder, the brother of Federal Transport Minister Patrick Schnieder. A potential alliance with the SPD is currently viewed as the most likely path forward, though the AfD’s growing influence may shift the political landscape in the region.