Germany's Chancellor Narrowly Avoids Defeat as His Party Edges Out Far-Right in Regional Election
Chancellor Olaf Scholz has narrowly averted a major setback, as exit polls indicate his party has narrowly fended off a challenge from the far-right in his home state of Brandenburg.
Scholz's centre-left Social Democratic Party (SPD) came out on top in Sunday's regional election, maintaining control of the state with just a one- to two-point lead over the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD), according to exit polls by Germany's two main public broadcasters.
Brandenburg, governed by the SPD since reunification in 1990, appeared at risk of falling to the AfD, which has gained significant traction in recent years. Polling data after voting closed at 18:00 (16:00 GMT) predicted the SPD would secure between 31% and 32% of the vote, while the AfD was close behind with 29% to 30%.
This election, in the Berlin outskirts, was closely watched following the AfD’s historic victory earlier this month in Thuringia, where it became the first far-right party to win a state election in Germany since World War Two. The AfD also came in a close second in Saxony on the same day, further underscoring its rising influence in the east of the country.
Had the AfD won Sunday’s election, it would have severely undermined Scholz’s chances of securing a second term in Germany’s federal elections next year, particularly as he resides in Brandenburg's capital, Potsdam.
The SPD's narrow win could offer Scholz a much-needed boost, especially as he faces slumping approval ratings and growing internal conflict within his coalition government.
The Rise of the Far Right
Dietmar Woidke, Brandenburg's popular SPD premier, largely distanced himself from Scholz during the campaign and has been openly critical of the chancellor's coalition and its policies. Scholz, however, has called on other political parties to unite against the AfD, urging them to maintain a "firewall" against the far-right party, which he described as "right-wing extremist."
Scholz called the AfD’s successes in Thuringia and Saxony “bitter” and “alarming,” adding that the party is damaging Germany by “weakening the economy, dividing society, and tarnishing the country's reputation."
Though the AfD is classified as an extremist party in some states, it remains unlikely to enter regional governments, as all other political parties have consistently refused to collaborate with it. Nevertheless, the AfD continues to gain support, particularly among younger voters, by focusing on issues such as economic concerns, immigration, and the Ukraine war—issues that resonate strongly in the former East Germany.
The AfD’s victory in Thuringia, with nearly a third of the vote, sent shockwaves through Germany’s political landscape. It led the conservative CDU by nine points, with Germany’s governing parties trailing even further behind.
With just a year to go before federal elections, the AfD now holds second place in national polls. Its co-leader, Alice Weidel, has declared that "without us, a stable government is no longer possible."
