Germany: AfD makes significant gains, Merz’s CDU is expected to win in NRW – DW – 09

politics in Germany.

Germany: AfD gains significant ground, Merz’s CDU is expected to win in NRW.

Published on September 14, 2025, on September 14, 2025.

The far-right AfD has tripled its vote share in North Rhine-Westphalia since the last local elections in Germany’s most populous state, according to preliminary estimates, while the CDU is expected to win. DW owns more.

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What you need to know.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s center-right party was predicted to win the municipal vote in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany’s most populous state, as polls closed. However, the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) also has cause for celebration.

Around 34 percent of the vote is expected to go to Merz’s CDU, followed by the far-right AfD with 16 percent and the center-left SPD with 22 percent. This is more than three times the party’s 2020 vote share of 5 percent.

The local elections on Sunday marked the first since Chancellor Friedrich Merz assumed office in May.

The AfD is now the second-strongest political force in the country after making historic gains in recent years.

The AfD is hoping to take advantage of the shift to the right in western Germany, even though the majority of its voters come from eastern German states.

The blog is now closed. You can read DW’s coverage of the North Rhine-Westphalian local election as well as other German news from Sunday, September 14th, below.

Skip to the next section. The state premier of North Rhine-Westphalia is CDU’s “powerhouse.”.

The date is September 15, 2025.

North Rhine-Westphalia is the state premier and the CDU’s “powerhouse.”.

The premier of the conservative Christian Democratic Union (CDU), North Rhine-Westphalia, Hendrik Wüst, referred to his state as “the CDU’s powerhouse.”. “.”.

After early predictions on Sunday night indicated that his party would win in Germany’s most populous state, Wüst posted on X.

North Rhine-Westphalia’s center-right party is “the pacesetter for strong election results for the CDU throughout Germany,” according to the outcome, Wüst added.

https://p. dw . com/p/50Sr2.

Skip to the next section SPD co-leader is unhappy with the outcome of the NRW election.

The date is September 15, 2025.

SPD co-leader dissatisfied with the outcome of the NRW election.

The performance of the center-left Social Democratic Party (SPD) in Sunday’s local elections in North Rhine-Westphalia has left Bärbel Bas, the party’s co-chairperson, disappointed.

The federal Labor Minister, Bas, admitted to regional public broadcaster WDR that the party could not “halt the downward trend.”. “..”.

“The results do not make me happy, of course,” she continued.

With about 22% of the vote, the SPD is predicted to come in second.

But according to Bas, the outcome is not the SPD’s doom that was anticipated before the vote.

“We must, of course, ask ourselves how we can get out of this slump,” Bas stated, adding that all democratic parties should be concerned about the Alternative for Germany’s (AfD) performance.

In recent years, the SPD has had difficulties at the polls. The party’s worst performance since 1887 occurred in the federal election held in February.

https://p. Dot dw com/p/50Sr4.

The EuroBasket title is won by Germany after they defeat Turkey.

September 15, 2025, 09/15/2025.

To win the EuroBasket title, Germany defeated Turkey.

In Sunday night’s EuroBasket 2025 final in Riga, Germany’s men’s basketball team defeated Turkey to win its second-ever European championship.

NBA star Dennis Schröder, who won the tournament’s MVP award, put on a strong performance to help the defending world champions defeat the Turks 88-83.

Find out more about Germany’s first EuroBasket victory since 1993.

https://p. “dw . com/p/50SzV.”.

Go to the next section to learn about the lasting effects of the racist Nuremberg Laws in Germany.

09/15/2025 September 15, 2025.

In Germany, the racist Nuremberg Laws’ legacy endures.

For centuries, Germans have debated the definition of Germanness and what exactly qualifies a person as such.

The constitution, called the Basic Law, is clear: a German is anyone with a German passport.

Discriminating against citizens based on their language, origin, or religion is against the core principles of the Basic Law, and citizenship cannot be revoked.

During the Nazi regime’s reign of terror from 1933 to 1945, which systematically disenfranchised, terrorized, and murdered Germany’s Jewish population in particular, this is one of the lessons that were learned. Other groups that were singled out and denied their German identity included Sinti and Roma, homosexuals, disabled people, and political opponents.

Learn more about the growing doubts surrounding the core principle of equality for all Germans, even eight decades after the fall of Nazi rule.

https://p. “dw . com/p/50Sw5”.

The next section is skipped. Thieves take nearly all of the ripe grapes from two vineyards.

The date is September 15, 2025.

Almost all of the ripe grapes from two vineyards are stolen by thieves.

Two vineyards in the western state of Rhineland-Palatinate, totaling about 8,000 square meters, have had almost all of their ripe grapes stolen.

According to a statement from the police, the theft is expected to cost two independent winemakers in the village of Gundheim “several thousand euros.”.

Situated approximately 60 kilometers (37 miles) south of Frankfurt am Main, Germany’s financial center, the village is close to the city of Worms.

Riesling and Sauvignon blanc are among the grape varieties impacted.

The accused criminals, according to authorities, “acted professionally and with considerable logistical effort.”. “..”.

“It must be assumed that at least one larger vehicle or multiple means of transportation were used due to the quantity of stolen goods,” the police stated.

Police have asked anyone who sees suspicious persons or cars close to the vineyards between September 6 and Sunday to get in touch with them.

https://p. Dw . com/p/50Sub.

Chrupalla: AfD is now a “major party”—skip to the next section.

September 14, 2025, 09/14/2025.

According to Chrupalla, the AfD is now a “major party.”.

Tino Chrupalla, who co-led the Alternative for Germany (AfD) alongside Alice Weidel, praised the preliminary predictions, indicating that his far-right party has more than tripled its vote share in the North Rhine-Westphalia local elections.

He wrote, “We are a major party and we all bear a great responsibility for Germany,” on X.

German intelligence has classified the AfD party as “extremist.”.

Please turn on JavaScript to watch this video, and think about switching to a web browser that can play HTML5 videos.

https://p. dw . com/p/50SiC.

Go to the next section. Top CDU lawmaker Spahn praises the NRW vote boost but cautions about the gains of the far right.

September 14, 2025, 09/14/2025.

Leading CDU lawmaker Spahn praises the NRW vote increase but cautions about far-right gains.

Jens Spahn, the leader of the CDU parliamentary party, said the federal ruling coalition is boosted by the results of the local elections in North Rhine-Westphalia. The center-left SPD and the conservative CDU/CSU bloc make up Friedrich Merz’s coalition.

The North Rhine-Westphalian native stated, “The strong result in NRW is the reward for good local work and gives the coalition in Berlin a tailwind.”.

The municipal vote’s result, according to Spahn, is motivation for “calm, pragmatic work,” which voters obviously value. He cautioned, however, that the rise of the far right, as evidenced by the growing AfD support, needs to serve as a wake-up call. The lawmaker claims that this demonstrates why problems like welfare abuse, migration caused by poverty, and unsuccessful integration “must not be taboo” and call for decisive action.

In Germany’s NRW state, the CDU is expected to receive 34.2% of the vote after Sunday’s vote, which would be about the same as its historically low 34.3% in 2020. The SPD trailed at 22.6 percent, down 12.7 points. The AfD reached 16.4%, more than tripling its 2020 result.

https://p. dw . com/p/50Sfe.

Go to the next section to see how Germany’s Green Party lost badly in the local elections.

09/14/2025 September 14, 2025.

In local elections, the Green Party of Germany loses badly.

After the NRW vote, the Green Party is predicted to receive 11.7 percent of the vote, which is a significant decrease from the 20 percent they received in the municipal election in 2020.

The party will have to wait and see “where we end up,” said Felix Banaszak, the federal co-chair of the Greens, on Sunday. “..”.

He said the poor outcome was a reflection of the mood at the time and that progressive and ecological politics are facing challenges not just in Germany but globally.

According to Banaszak, the Greens have put themselves in a challenging situation.

Additionally, he recognized the errors committed by the Green Party and the previous ruling coalition under former Chancellor Olaf Scholz.

According to Banaszak, a party that did everything correctly does not lose eight percentage points. “.

https://p. dw . com/p/50SbB.

Go to the next section to read about an elderly man who died at a polling place inside a retirement community.

Tuesday, September 14, 2025.

In a retirement home, an elderly man passes away at the polling place.

In Krefeld, which is northwest of Düsseldorf, the state capital of NRW, an old man passed away after collapsing at a polling place.

The man was not a resident of the retirement home where the polling station was located. The man had come to cast his ballot with his spouse in the afternoon, according to a city spokesperson.

Attempts to revive him on the spot by someone at the polling station were unsuccessful.

The Rheinische Post newspaper reported preliminary findings that the elderly man had a pre-existing medical condition.

https://p. Dw . com/p/50SVx.

AfD surges as CDU wins elections throughout NRW; skip to the next section.

09/14/2025 September 14, 2025.

In NRW, CDU wins elections while AfD gains ground.

In the municipal elections of North Rhine-Westphalia, the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) made significant gains, but the conservative Christian Democrats (CDU) emerged as the strongest party.

Public broadcaster WDR predicted that the center-left Social Democrats (SPD) and Greens would lose ground.

The CDU received 34 percent, which is about the same as its historically poor 34 percent performance in 2020. The SPD came in second with 22.5%, a slight decrease from 24.3% five years prior.

From 5 points 1 percent in 2020 to 16 points 5 percent, the AfD more than tripled its vote share. The Greens lost badly, falling to 11.5 percent after reaching a record 20 percent in the previous local election.

Merz’s rule is put to the test by elections in Germany’s most populous state.

Please turn on JavaScript to watch this video, and think about switching to a web browser that can play HTML5 videos.

https://p. dw . com/p/50ST3.

Skip to the next section: Can the national government be shaken by an NRW vote?

September 14, 2025, 09/14/2025.

Could an NRW vote overthrow the federal government?

In today’s regional election in North Rhine-Westphalia, the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) is hoping to regain ground; the result is also considered a litmus test for the federal government, which is led by moderate conservative Friedrich Merz.

The center-left Social Democrats (SDP), conservative CSU of Bavaria, and Chancellor Merz’s own Christian Democrats (CDU) form the ruling coalition.

Despite the fact that the SDP is already a junior partner in Merz’s government, it is anticipated that the CDU will lose a few seats to the AfD in the regional election. In the Ruhr region, which was once the industrial center of Germany, the SPD faces particularly difficult competition in places like Gelsenkirchen and Duisburg.

Oliver Lembcke, a political scientist, notes that the AfD links immigration to issues like poor schools, high rents, or housing shortages.

Strong AfD results could therefore increase pressure on Berlin’s ruling coalition, particularly on immigration, internal security, and other social issues.

See our detailed analysis here.

https://p. Dw . com/p/50SCN.

Skip to the next section: Emergency response to drunken man on church roof.

09/14/2025 September 14, 2025.

An emergency response is prompted by an inebriated man on the roof of a church.

In the southern city of Landshut, an inebriated man climbed a 50-meter (165-foot) church roof to snap a photo with his cell phone, according to the German news agency DPA, which cited police.

He was rescued using a turntable ladder as a result of his actions, which triggered a massive emergency response, according to police.

On Saturday night, the 24-year-old reportedly climbed over scaffolding and entered the nave of St. Martin’s Church.

Following that, he scaled the 50-meter-high ridge, sat down, and snapped a picture of the scenery.

Despite minor injuries, he is now facing charges of trespassing and property damage. According to the police, he will also be responsible for paying for the rescue effort.

https://p. Dot dw com/p/50Rzw.

The regional leader of the AfD says there was no foul play in the deaths of its candidates.

Tuesday, September 14, 2025.

The regional party leader claims there was no foul play in the deaths of AfD candidates.

Online speculation was sparked by the deaths of seven far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) candidates during the election campaign. Elon Musk, a billionaire supporter of the party, even commented on the deaths, calling them “weird.”. “.”.

Despite being the most deaths in any party in the lead-up to Sunday’s elections, official data also shows that nine candidates from other parties died during the preelection period.

The DPA news agency was informed by a representative of the election commissioner for the state of North Rhine-Westphalia that the number of candidate fatalities was “not significantly higher” than in prior campaigns.

However, by re-posting an article by retired economist Stefan Homburg that claimed that the number of AfD candidates killed was “statistically almost impossible,” party co-leader Alice Weidel appeared to support conspiracy theories regarding the deaths. “,”.

But Martin Vincentz, the leader of the AfD’s chapter in the state, backed police in saying that no evidence of foul play had emerged.

He did, however, imply that the conjecture regarding potential criminal causes of death was a reflection of “the often ruthless battle that has been waged against the AfD for years” by German authorities.

National intelligence services are looking into the party, which is the most powerful opposition group in Germany’s parliament, as a “suspected” case of right-wing extremism.

https://p. Dot dw com/p/50Rtg.

See the next section for more information on North Rhine-Westphalian local elections.

09/14/2025 September 14, 2025.

What is the purpose of North Rhine-Westphalia’s local elections?

In North Rhine-Westphalia, local elections are held every five years. Approximately 13.7 million eligible voters will select mayors, district administrators, county councils, city and municipal councils, and 427 municipalities.

How many of the candidates are up?

In addition to independents and groups that only function at the regional or local level, voters will have to choose from 20,000 candidates who represent each of the five major parties.

Who are the five major participants?

The conservative Christian Democrats (CDU) of Chancellor Friedrich Merz, his junior coalition partners the center-left Social Democrats, the socialist Left Party, the pro-environment Green Party, the business-friendly Free Democrats (FDP), and the far-right populist Alternative for Germany (AfD) are all putting forward candidates, though not in everything.

Which competitions are the best?

The election results will determine the positions of mayors of North Rhine-Westphalia’s most populous city, Cologne, and the state capital, Düsseldorf.

For what reason is it significant?

With the anti-immigrant AfD receiving special attention, the local elections are viewed as a gauge of political sentiment in Germany.

https://p. Dw . com/p/50RiT.

Go to the next section Thousands of Germany’s historic sites welcome tourists.

The date is September 14, 2025.

Germany has thousands of historic sites that welcome tourists.

On Sunday, Germany will host a nationwide Day of Open Monuments, which will allow the public to view 6,000 monuments.

Visitors will have the opportunity to explore a variety of locations, including historic residences, brewery cellars, church towers, factories, and bunkers, according to the German Foundation for Monument Protection.

There are 450 guided tours and over 8,000 events scheduled, the majority of which are free.

Steffen Skudelny, the chair of the German Foundation for Monument Protection, said, “You owe these experiences and private insights to almost 10,000 people who decided that their favorite places were a must-see.”.

As guardians of monuments, your hosts take pride in having prepared the structures for both the present and the future. “You ought to accept such an invitation,” Skudelny remarked.

https://p. Dot dw com/p/50RaF.

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