AfD Eyeing Rhineland-Palatinate State Election Victory: Determined to Command the Leadership
"AFD leader expresses ambition to assume government roles, aiming for minister presidencies" - "AFD leader expresses ambition for leadership: Proposes selection of prime ministers"
In the upcoming Rhineland-Palatinate state election, the AfD exudes an air of self-assured confidence. State leader Jan Bollinger shared this sentiment in a casual chat with SWR Aktuell Summer Interview, asserting that the party is a formidable force across Germany, including within Rhineland-Palatinate. The party's impressive runner-up position in the west during the last federal election hints at their ambition to seize the reins of government and appoint the Minister-President.
The Rhineland-Palatinate AfD will present their state list for the state election at a fiery gathering slated for June 14 in Idar-Oberstein. Bollinger himself aspires to top the list as the prominent candidate at this event.
Mark your calendars for March 22, 2026, as the next state election draws near. In the latest SWR political magazine "Zur Sache Rhineland-Palatinate!", the AfD garnered the support of 17% of the voters, according to a survey conducted by Infratest Dimap between May 27 and June 3, 2025, among 1,140 eligible voters.
- AfD
- State Election
- Rhineland-Palatinate
- Rhineland
- Germany
- Leader
- Mainz
- Confidence
- SWR
A Glimpse into the AfD's National Strategy
- The AfD has staked its reputation on a strong anti-immigration stance, resonating with voters and securing first place in all eastern German states. Their influence even expanded among younger voters in the 2025 federal election, capturing the top spot amongst those aged 30-44 and coming in second for those aged 18-29.
- Party leaders such as Björn Höcke have alleged that the mainstream CDU/CSU increasingly employ conservative, right-wing rhetoric in their campaigns, suggesting an opportunity for the AfD to bolster their own influence.
- Post-election, the AfD emerged as the largest opposition party in the Bundestag, affording them greater speaking time, the right to respond first to the chancellor, and increased committee influence. Party leaders are hopeful that mounting political pressures will eventually compel the CDU/CSU to engage with them, despite existing barriers to collaboration.
Regional Ambitions
Though Rhineland-Palatinate-specific information is scarce, the AfD's broader aims for governance can be inferred:
- Hardline Immigration Policies: Emphasizing the need for stricter immigration policies and tighter border control.
- Challenges to Mainstream Parties: Positioning themselves as guardians of conservative values and denouncing both left and center-right parties for their perceived policy failures.
- Legislative Influence: Capitalizing on their status as the main opposition party to steer policy debates, secure more media attention, and impact security, intelligence, and budgetary oversight.
- Financial Support and Visibility: Utilizing increased financial support and media exposure due to their expanded parliamentary presence to further their policy objectives and prime themselves for future elections, including state-level campaigns.
- The Rhineland-Palatinate branch of the AfD, with its confidence rooted in their national strategy, is planning to present hardline immigration policies and challenge the mainstream parties in the upcoming state election.
- The AfD aims to capitalize on their status as the main opposition party, using increased financial support and media exposure to bolster their policy objectives, secure more media attention, and potentially steer policy debates towards stricter immigration policies and tighter border control.
