AfD wins German state election, CDU crashes out of parliament
Germany's far-right Alternative für Deutschland has won a state election for the first time, taking 38.2% of the vote in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, while the Christian Democratic Union failed to clear the 5% threshold needed to enter a regional parliament for the first time in post-war history, landing at 4.9%. The Social Democratic Party finished second with 35.5%.
The results, confirmed by the regional electoral office, mark a political earthquake in Germany's northeastern coastal state. The AfD more than doubled its 2021 share — a gain of roughly 22 percentage points — to become the largest party. Outgoing Minister-President Manuela Schwesig of the SPD has vowed to continue governing, telling supporters in Schwerin that "the AfD will not be able to form a government" because a majority of voters chose democratic parties.
A historic collapse for Merkel's former party
The CDU's result wiped more than 8 points off its 2021 performance, when it took 13.3%. Regional party leader Daniel Peters said a polarized campaign between the SPD and AfD had "squeezed" his party out of contention. Vote flow analysis shows roughly 28,000 former CDU voters switched to the AfD, while another 25,000 moved to the SPD.
Chancellor Friedrich Merz called the result a "disaster" and acknowledged his federal government had failed to provide enough momentum from Berlin. Germany has struggled with economic stagnation and a bitter social climate, he added, saying difficult reforms are now urgent. The vote reflects broad dissatisfaction with mainstream parties.
AfD leader calls for national consequences
AfD co-leader Alice Weidel, speaking on German public broadcaster ZDF, said her party is now "the largest in Germany" and called on Merz to "draw the consequences" for his party and the country. The AfD's long-term goal, she said, is to open talks with the CDU at federal level — a prospect Berlin's mainstream parties have so far rejected through a longstanding cordon sanitaire against governing with the far right.
AfD lead candidate Enrico Schult struck a triumphalist tone: "The AfD is here to stay. And we will govern too, dear friends." Co-leader Tino Chrupalla called on other parties to end their "firewall" policy against his party.
The path to power remains blocked. Schwesig, whose personal popularity anchored the SPD campaign — nearly half her voters said they would not have backed the party without her — said she is ready to form a stable, democratic government. Exit polls show roughly 60% of voters want her to continue as Minister-President.
South Tyrol question dismissed as "nonsense"
In Italy, the AfD's rise has drawn scrutiny over past rhetoric involving Sudtirol. Marc Jongen, an AfD member of the European Parliament, dismissed fears his party seeks to reclaim territories as "nonsense" during an appearance at the Forum of Italian Independence in Orvieto. South Tyrol was Austrian, not German, he told the audience.
Italian Deputy Prime Minister Antonio Tajani, leader of Forza Italia, had earlier told Corriere della Sera that the AfD "supports and promotes the secession of South Tyrol from Italy" — a claim Jongen rejected, insisting such fears belong to the past.
Other parties clearing the 5% hurdle in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern were Die Linke with 6.5% and the Greens at 5.7%. The BSW alliance and the FDP both fell short.
