AfD weakens CDU across state elections as Weidel offers Merz talks

Although two entirely different parties emerged victorious in two elections held in Germany at the weekend, the common denominator was that Alternative for Germany (AfD) eroded the Christian Democrats (CDU).

In the Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania election in particular, the surprise was not that the AfD finished as the leading party with 38.2%, but that the CDU fell below the electoral threshold for the first time in the history of the Federal Republic.

In the Berlin election, when compared with the 2023 vote, the AfD drew most of its support from non-voters (65,000) and CDU voters (56,000).

Following the elections in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania and Berlin, AfD co-leader Alice Weidel reiterated her forecast that the CDU will not win any federal elections in the future.

According to Weidel, voters are no longer “swallowing the platform of an obsolete people’s party.”

Noting that the AfD did not find it regrettable that the Christian Democrats would no longer be represented in the Schwerin state parliament, Weidel cited as the reason that “the CDU had already rejected all forms of cooperation.”

Speaking of “excellent results” at a federal press conference held after the elections, Weidel argued that it was becoming increasingly clear that the AfD would replace the CDU as a people’s party (Volkspartei).

She remarked that the CDU’s “foolish firewall policy” was responsible for the strong performance of the Left Party in Berlin, thereby enabling red-red-green (Left-Greens-SPD) coalition majorities.

Weidel offered “talks” to Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz and stated that the AfD was prepared to end the “stagnation” in the state.

Calling on Merz to ensure that the CDU/CSU drew lessons from the election results, Weidel said, “If the CDU barely clears the 5% threshold in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania and receives very weak results, then the Chancellor must draw the consequences.”

Criticising the government, the AfD leader also said that major reforms had “only been announced” for a year and a half, adding, “One should not just announce them; one must actually implement them.”

Meanwhile, despite the AfD’s electoral victory in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, where it outstripped the SPD, the AfD’s lead candidate Leif-Erik Holm is “not very hopeful” about being able to form a government.

Holm said they would offer talks to all other parties in the state parliament, but that he did not expect to come to power on his own.

Announcing that the AfD would nevertheless lay claim to the state parliamentary presidency because the party holds approximately 45% of the seats in the legislature, Holm also indicated that a Covid-19 investigative committee would be established.

Speaking to NDR Info, the AfD politician said, “I believe we could come to power. However, at present, it does not look as though that will be the case.”

Holm noted that it currently appeared as though a red-red-green majority would emerge, adding, “This is certainly not a good direction for our country to take.”

Holm reaffirmed his party’s claim to power. Stating that the electorate had handed this mandate to the AfD by a large majority, he said, “For this reason, we expect from the other parties that we are able to engage in dialogue with one another.”

Indicating that he wanted to conduct these talks alongside the AfD’s lead candidate Enrico Schult, Holm was defeated by Minister-President Manuela Schwesig (SPD) in the direct mandate race in Schwerin and will not enter the state parliament.

In the event that the AfD fails to join a coalition as expected, Holm plans to remain a member of the Bundestag.

Kristin Brinker, the AfD’s lead candidate in Berlin, said that the “firewall” was no longer between the Berlin CDU and the AfD, but within the CDU itself, asserting that the AfD was “the only party winning support from the conservative wing.”