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Germany: Olaf Scholz’s SPD narrowly wins regional election against far-right
Germany: Olaf Scholz’s SPD narrowly wins regional election against far-right
(FRANCEINFO)
On Sunday, September 22, the SPD narrowly defeated the far-right AfD in the regional election in Brandenburg, Germany. A relief for Social Democratic Chancellor Olaf Scholz, who would have been further weakened by a defeat.
The Social Democratic Party (SPD) narrowly won the regional election in Brandenburg, Germany, on Sunday, September 22. It won by just two points over the far-right AfD, which was leading in recent polls. Despite the defeat, AfD leaders celebrated a historic result. Brandenburg is a region of 2.5 million people, surrounding the city of Berlin and extending to the Polish border.
The election was so closely watched because the region is the stronghold of the party of the social-democrat German Chancellor Olaf Scholz. The stakes were therefore high, as the latter’s popularity stands at only 18% one year before the general election. A defeat would have further weakened him. But the AfD, buoyed by the return to the forefront of the debates on security and immigration, is clearly on the rise. In early September, the party recorded two historic victories in other regions.