NRW Local Elections Results: CDU Victorious, AfD Edges Out Greens and Creates Waves in Urban Centers
Municipal Elections in North Rhine-Westphalia: CDU Secures Victory, AfD Makes Strong Showing
The municipal elections held in North Rhine-Westphalia on September 18, 2025, have seen the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) emerge as the strongest force, securing 33.3% of the votes. This marks the party's best result in the region since 1989.
The Alternative for Germany (AfD) made a significant impact in these elections, almost tripling its result to secure 14.5% of the votes, landing in third place. This strong performance has raised concerns among political leaders, with Minister-President Hendrik Wüst expressing his worry about the AfD's surge, despite the CDU's victory.
The SPD, traditionally a strong contender in the region, saw a decline in its support, achieving 22.1% of the votes. Interestingly, the Greens candidate did not advance to the runoff elections in any major city, suggesting a shift in voter preferences from the Greens to the AfD.
In the runoff elections scheduled for September 28, the CDU candidate will be competing in all major cities: Cologne, Düsseldorf, and Bonn. AfD candidates have also advanced in several cities, including Gelsenkirchen, Duisburg, Hagen, Essen, and Dortmund. The Minister-President has expressed his concern about the AfD's strong performance in these runoff elections.
These municipal elections are seen as a mood test for the federal government under Friedrich Merz, with the results expected to have implications for the federal elections in 2026. The elections were closely watched as a test for the popularity of the federal government under Merz.
It is important to note that the voter turnout in these elections was 56.8%, indicating a fair level of participation from the electorate. The voter turnout for the runoff elections will be on September 28, 2025.
As the dust settles on these elections, political parties and observers alike will be analysing the results to understand the changing political landscape in North Rhine-Westphalia and the potential implications for future elections.
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