Story perspectives

Local Elections Test CDU as AfD Gains Ground

9/14/2025

Summary

Story summary

Local elections in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, are scheduled for Sunday, serving as a crucial test for Chancellor Friedrich Merz's Christian Democratic Union (CDU).
The far-right Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) party is projected to gain around 16% support, an increase from previous elections.
The CDU is expected to secure about 35% of the vote, despite a decline in backing.
The Social Democrats may struggle in former strongholds as blue-collar workers consider the AfD.
Analysts foresee the AfD winning mayoralties in cities like Gelsenkirchen, with a runoff election set for September 28.

History

Historical Context

The rise of the Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) party in the 2017 federal elections, where it secured 12.6% of the vote, signaled a shift in German politics amid declining support for the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), which fell from 41.5% to an expected 35%. This trend reflects growing discontent among blue-collar workers and could reshape local governance and national policies.

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Story summary

Local elections in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, are scheduled for Sunday, serving as a crucial test for Chancellor Friedrich Merz's Christian Democratic Union (CDU).
The far-right Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) party is projected to gain around 16% support, an increase from previous elections.
The CDU is expected to secure about 35% of the vote, despite a decline in backing.
The Social Democrats may struggle in former strongholds as blue-collar workers consider the AfD.
Analysts foresee the AfD winning mayoralties in cities like Gelsenkirchen, with a runoff election set for September 28.

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