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

Rhineland-Palatinate Election Results: AfD Secures Strongest Performance in Western Germany

Following a recent electoral defeat in Baden-Württemberg, the SPD encountered another significant setback in Rhineland-Palatinate, losing approximately nine percentage points and failing to surpass the CDU. Early projections from ARD and ZDF—based on data from Infratest dimap and Forschungsgruppe Wahlen—indicated the CDU held a lead of 30.6%, while the Social Democrats, who have led the state for three decades under Alexander Schweitzer, secured just 25.7%. The AfD emerged as the third-largest party with an estimated 20% of the vote, marking a notable shift in the region’s political landscape.

AfD’s Historic Surge

The right-wing populist AfD achieved its highest-ever result in a state election within western Germany, gaining over eleven percentage points compared to previous polls. This sharp increase positions the party as a formidable opposition force. Alice Weidel, the AfD leader, emphasized “excellent opposition work” in an interview on Sunday evening, signaling the party’s growing influence.

“This victory is historic. It shows a tailwind for national politics,” said Jens Spahn, the CDU’s federal parliamentary group leader, during an ARD interview.

Meanwhile, the Greens became the fourth-strongest party with 7.9% of the vote, while the Free Democrats, part of Rhineland-Palatinate’s previous coalition, dropped to around 2%, likely excluding them from the state parliament. The Left Party also fell short of parliamentary entry, securing just over four percentage points despite modest gains.

The impact of postal voting on the final tally remained uncertain at first, but current projections suggest only four parties will be represented in the state assembly. Gordon Schnieder, the CDU’s likely next premier, is the brother of Federal Transport Minister Patrick Schnieder. A coalition between the CDU and SPD appears the most probable path forward.

For Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s federal CDU, the Rhineland-Palatinate result represents a clear triumph after a close race in the campaign. The party’s performance two weeks ago in Baden-Württemberg, where it narrowly lost to the Greens, contrasted with this more decisive win. Within the SPD, the outcome has sparked internal turmoil, with leader Lars Klingbeil initiating personnel discussions and the party’s general secretary calling it a “bitter setback.”