Anti-migrant party beats Angela Merkel's CDU party on home turf
Poll is first of five regional votes to take place before Germany's national electon next September
German chancellor Angela Merkel's Christian Democratic Union (CDU) has been beaten into third place behind the Social Democrats (SPD) and right-wing, anti-migrant party Alternative fur Deutschland (AfD) during regional elections in her constituency of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern.
Projections following yesterday's election showed the SPD comfortably in front with 30.5 per cent of the vote, followed by AfD on 21 per cent and the CDU on 19 per cent.
BBC Berlin correspondent Jenny Hill described the result as "humiliating for Angela Merkel - not least because this was on home turf", calling the election a "significant test ahead of next year's general election".
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
The election focused very strongly on Germany's current refugee policy, with AfD candidates openly questioning the Merkel government's "open door" approach to the migrant crisis.
The poll - the first of five regional votes due to take place before the national election next September - is largely symbolic, and "will not have a direct impact on the workings of the German government", says The Guardian.
However, AfD candidate Leif-Erik Holm said: "The icing on the cake is that we have left Merkel's CDU behind us. Maybe that is the beginning of the end of Merkel's time as chancellor."
Angela Merkel is currently in China for the G20 summit. The result comes as her approval ratings reportedly hit their lowest point in five years last week.
But what can happen in 12 short months has been shown in AfD's swift upward climb, notes Marcel Fürstenau at Deutsche Welle.
"The other parties must now swallow the bitter pill and treat them as a legitimate opposition party," he says. "Trying to cut them out completely is the wrong way forward. Exercising competent politics, which is more convincing over the long term, is a better way to stop the right-wing populists."
Infographic by www.statista.com for TheWeek.co.uk.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
Geoff Capes obituary: shot-putter who became the World’s Strongest Man
In the Spotlight The 'mighty figure' was a two-time Commonwealth Champion and world-record holder
By The Week UK Published
-
Israel attacks Iran: a 'limited' retaliation
Talking Point Iran's humiliated leaders must decide how to respond to Netanyahu's measured strike
By The Week UK Published
-
Crossword: November 2, 2024
The Week's daily crossword puzzle
By The Week Staff Published
-
Has the Taliban banned women from speaking?
Today's Big Question 'Rambling' message about 'bizarre' restriction joins series of recent decrees that amount to silencing of Afghanistan's women
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Cuba's energy crisis
The Explainer Already beset by a host of issues, the island nation is struggling with nationwide blackouts
By Rebekah Evans, The Week UK Published
-
Putin's fixation with shamans
Under the Radar Secretive Russian leader, said to be fascinated with occult and pagan rituals, allegedly asked for blessing over nuclear weapons
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Chimpanzees are dying of human diseases
Under the radar Great apes are vulnerable to human pathogens thanks to genetic similarity, increased contact and no immunity
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Deaths of Jesse Baird and Luke Davies hang over Sydney's Mardi Gras
The Explainer Police officer, the former partner of TV presenter victim, charged with two counts of murder after turning himself in
By Austin Chen, The Week UK Published
-
Quiz of The Week: 24 February - 1 March
Puzzles and Quizzes Have you been paying attention to The Week's news?
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
Will mounting discontent affect Iran election?
Today's Big Question Low turnout is expected in poll seen as crucial test for Tehran's leadership
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
Sweden clears final NATO hurdle with Hungary vote
Speed Read Hungary's parliament overwhelmingly approved Sweden's accession to NATO
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published