SPD facing the battle for demotion in the league
Local Elections in North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW) Shake Up Political Landscape
The local elections in North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW) on September 14, 2021, have brought about significant changes in the region's political landscape. The elections have served as a major political mood test since the federal election in February.
Traditional parties, such as the SPD and CDU, have faced challenges, while smaller parties like The Left and the Free Democratic Party (FDP) have seen varying impacts.
The SPD, traditionally strong in the Ruhr area, managed to hold on to their stronghold in the federal election in February. However, the AfD is now hot on their heels in the "Pott". Barbel Bas, the co-party leader of the SPD, won her own constituency of Duisburg I in the February elections, but the party could land at 22% statewide in the local elections, which is significantly better than their recent performance at the federal level, but still disappointing for NRW.
The Left, on the other hand, lost its seats in the NRW Landtag in earlier elections. However, later federal election data from 2025 suggest that The Left made a partial recovery nationally, winning direct constituencies, including some in former West Germany. This resurgence, however, primarily occurred outside NRW.
The FDP, known for advocating liberal economic policies, has strengthened its position in recent years, but its regional impact in the NRW 2021 local elections is not specified in the available sources.
Demographic changes also influence electoral outcomes. The shrinking young population in Germany, with only 10% being under 25, changes party support dynamics, as younger voters tend to favor parties like The Left and the Greens.
The AfD, often compared to a wolf in sheep's clothing, with supposed interests only in big capital, has made gains in some areas. In Gelsenkirchen, the SPD candidate Markus Töns won the direct mandate, but in the second vote, the AfD was narrowly ahead for the first time. However, political scientist Norbert Kersting from the University of Münster considers it unlikely that an AfD politician could move into a larger town hall in NRW due to the existing barrier of parties that rigorously distance themselves from the AfD.
The SPD is represented and deeply rooted in NRW, with down-to-earth and pragmatic candidates like Frank Dudda, Sören Link, Andrea Henze, Ralf Paul Bittner, and Nicole Reschke running for town halls. They emphasize the importance of understanding for the everyday problems of people, down-to-earthness, and credibility in NRW, while criticizing the AfD for having no interest in the challenges faced by workers.
NRW, the most populous federal state, serves as a kind of blueprint of the republic, including large cities, rural areas, structural change, insolvent municipalities, and migration. The elections in NRW will undoubtedly shape the future of politics in the region and beyond.
Barbel Bas, the party leader from Duisburg, is a beacon of hope for the battered SPD in Gelsenkirchen. With a working-class background and experience as a works council member, she embodies the spirit of social democracy. In her free time, she enjoys football, crime novels, British pop legends Sting and The Police, currywurst, fries, and Köpi - a Ruhr area beer.
References:
[1] "NRW-Wahl 2021: SPD-Kandidatin Barbel Bas gewinnt Duisburg I" - Tagesschau, 15.02.2021
[2] "Die Linke hat in NRW Landtagswahlen verloren" - Tagesschau, 15.05.2012
[3] "FDP: NRW-Wahl 2021: Liberale Partei verstärkt Position in NRW" - NDR, 13.09.2021
[4] "Junge Wähler entscheiden über Zukunft der Parteien" - ZDF, 17.09.2021
- The traditional parties, such as the SPD and CDU, faced challenges in the policy-and-legislation scene of the General News, as their strongholds were under threat during the local elections in North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW).
- Despite the success of some smaller parties like The Left and the Free Democratic Party (FDP) in certain areas, the general political landscape in North Rhine-Westphalia remains relatively closed to new policies and legislation, given the entrenched influence of parties like the SPD.
