BERLIN—The AfD has once again emerged as the leading party in German state elections. In the September 20 elections in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, the party garnered 38.2% of the vote, surpassing the SPD, which obtained 35.5%.
This result translates into 32 seats for the AfD and 29 for
the SPD in the 71-member regional parliament. The election also saw the CDU
fail to win any seats in the state parliament, as it received 4.9% of the vote,
falling short of the 5% threshold.
This victory comes just two weeks after the AfD's triumph in
Saxony-Anhalt, where the party secured 43.8% of the vote in the September 6
elections, winning 39 of the 83 seats in the regional parliament.
In Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, the right-wing advance
represents a significant shift from 2021, when it garnered 16.7% of the vote.
This time, over 78% of eligible voters participated in the election.
Although the AfD received the most votes, the result does
not guarantee it will govern alone. With 32 of the 71 seats, it needs
additional support to achieve a parliamentary majority. The SPD, which came in
second, retains the possibility of participating in the formation of the next
state government through agreements with other parties.
The results in Saxony-Anhalt and Mecklenburg-Western
Pomerania demonstrate the AfD's recent electoral growth in these two eastern
German states. This advance comes against a backdrop of intense competition
among traditional left-wing parties and increasing fragmentation of the German
political landscape.