On Sept. 14, Germany's most populous state, North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW), held local elections, in which the far-right party Alternative for Germany (AfD) saw a substantial increase in support. The results highlight the resurgence of far-right influence and put pressure on the country's four-month-old coalition government.
According to preliminary results, AfD received approximately 14.5% of the vote, nearly triple its 5.1% share in the 2020 election. The center-right Christian Democratic Union (CDU), led by Friedrich Merz, remained in the lead with 33% of the vote, though this marked a 1 percentage point decrease from 2020. The Social Democratic Party (SPD), part of the ruling coalition, secured about 22% of the vote, down 2.2 percentage points. The Greens experienced a significant decline, dropping 6.5 percentage points to 13.5%.
With a population of around 18 million, NRW is Merz's home state and is often seen as a microcosm of Germany due to its mix of major cities, declining industrial regions, and rural areas. Although AfD is not part of the current federal government, analysts note that the party has become a political force that can no longer be ignored. Hendrik Wüst, the CDU state premier of NRW, stated that AfD's rise should prompt centrist parties to reconsider their policies on issues such as immigration and social welfare.
Germany's recent economic weakness, rising unemployment, and growing public dissatisfaction with immigration have contributed to AfD's expansion. In February's federal elections, AfD secured 20.8% of the vote, making it the second-largest party in the Bundestag.
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