AFD also gains ground in western Germany. Extreme right tripled its score in the most populated land
Tino Chrupella, AFD president, photo: Daniel Lakomski / Imago Stock and People / Profimedia Images
The support for the far right in the local elections in Germany's most populated Land has undergone considerable growth, which represents a warning between the Christian-Democrats and Social-Democrats of the Chancellor Friedrich Merz, informs Reuters.
The forecasts of the exitpoll made for the ARD post at the local elections in the Nordrhein-Westafalen Land show that the votes for the alternative for Germany (AFD) reached 16.5%, triple compared to 2020.
Merz's Christian-Democrats remain the strongest party, with 34% of votes, about the same level as five years ago. Social Democrats (SPD) went down from 24.3% to 22.5%.
“I look at the AFD results with great concern. It should put us in thoughts, because it is an option that grows, and we, democrats, should counteract it,” said Land Niedersachsen Olaf Lies (SPD).
AFD expands its influence from eastern fighters
In Nordrhein-Westfalen, almost one third of Germany's citizens live. The land extends on the large area of Ruhr, the declining industrial center trying to give up mining and steel production, to the city such as Koln or Dusseldorf and large rural regions.
The vote is a first test for the uncomfortable coalition between CDU and SPD, whose critics claim that it fails to manage an economy in stagnation and the concern of voters related to immigration. Combating the latter is a priority for AFD nationalists who want to expand their electoral base from East Germany to the west.
A poll, however, published on Sunday, shows Merz's conservatives by a point, equal to AFD, both quoted to 25%, followed by SPD, with 14%.
“It is a great success for us. We are the People's Party and we all carry a great responsibility for Germany,” wrote AFD Tino Chruntalla.
AFD became the second largest party in Germany after the February Federal Elections, when it was supported by US billionaire Elon Musk.
The German counter -espionage agency has classified AFD as a right -handed organization in May, although the decision will be confirmed by a court of appeal.
The initial forecasts for Nordrhein-Westfalen show important losses for green and the Liberal-Democratic Party. The final results are expected, at the earliest, months.
