Economic unpredictability fuels rise in support for AfD party in various areas
In the 2025 federal elections, the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party achieved a vote share in transforming regions that was 3.7 percentage points higher than the national average. This trend was a subject of interest in a study conducted by the Institute of the German Economy (IW).
The study, led by author Hanno Kempermann, focused on regions undergoing economic transformations, specifically districts and cities that have historically benefited from strong industry. Kempermann attributes this development to the combination of transformations and poor infrastructure in these regions.
One such example is Sonneberg, a town in Thuringia. The constituency of Sonneberg saw a significant increase in AfD votes, with 43.1% in 2025 compared to 26.4% in 2021.
The concerns about prosperity and employment in historically industrial regions, like Sonneberg, are a significant factor in the AfD's election performance in these areas. Many residents are primarily concerned about maintaining their livelihoods in the face of economic changes.
Hanno Kempermann, in his comments, underscores the potential risks associated with these economic transformations. He emphasizes the importance of targeted funding, especially investments in structurally weak regions, as a means to mitigate the challenges faced by these areas.
The study suggests that targeted funding could help address the issues faced by structurally weak regions. However, as of now, there are no available search results specifying the ten transforming regions in western Germany with the highest AfD election results in 2025 according to the Institute of the German Economy.
It's worth noting that the AfD performed 2.2 percentage points better in transforming regions compared to other areas in the 2021 federal elections. The IW continues to study the impact of economic changes on the AfD's election results in transforming regions.
In total, 117 transforming regions were identified, with 91 in the western part and 26 in the eastern part of Germany. Kempermann's statement highlights the potential danger of transformations and poor infrastructure in historically industrial regions, underscoring the need for careful and strategic planning in these areas.
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