Germany’s far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party has seen a significant surge in support, with projections showing it gained more than triple its 2020 vote share to 16.5% in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia. The state, which accounts for nearly a quarter of Germany’s population, was key to testing Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s four-month-old national coalition with the Social Democrats. Despite the AfD’s growth, conservative parties still maintained their lead, with 34% of the vote.
The surge in AfD support is concerning for democrats, who say they must counter this emerging trend. The nationalist party wants to spread its appeal beyond eastern strongholds and tackle voter concerns about immigration. This election marks a test for Merz’s coalition, which critics argue has failed to address economic issues and migration concerns.
Meanwhile, the Greens and Free Democrats suffered heavy losses in the vote. The AfD’s success is being hailed by its co-leader, Tino Chrupalla, who sees it as a “great success” for the party. However, Germany’s domestic spy agency had previously classified the AfD as a right-wing extremist organization, although this decision is currently under review.
The results in North Rhine-Westphalia provide an early warning sign for Chancellor Merz’s national coalition and highlight the growing threat of far-right extremism in Germany.
Source: https://www.reuters.com/world/support-far-right-triples-western-german-vote-early-forecasts-show-2025-09-14