Skip next section CDU wins elections across NRW as AfD surges
09/14/2025September 14, 2025
CDU wins elections across NRW as AfD surges
The conservative Christian Democrats (CDU) emerged as the strongest party in North Rhine-Westphalia’s municipal elections, while the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) made major gains.
The center-right Social Democrats (SPD) and Greens lost ground, according to a forecast by public broadcaster WDR.
The CDU took 34%, roughly matching its historically weak 34.3% result in 2020. The SPD came second with 22.5%, slightly down from 24.3% five years ago.
The AfD more than tripled its vote share to 16.5% from 5.1% in 2020. The Greens suffered heavy losses, dropping to 11.5% after a record 20% in the last local election.
https://p.dw.com/p/50ST3
Skip next section Can NRW vote shake the national government?
09/14/2025September 14, 2025
Can NRW vote shake the national government?
The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) hopes to gain ground in today’s regional election in North Rhine-Westphalia — with the outcome also seen as a litmus test for the federal government led by moderate conservative Friedrich Merz.
Chancellor Merz is backed by the ruling coalition comprised of his own Christian Democrats (CDU), the Bavaria-based conservative CSU, and center-left Social Democrats (SDP).
The CDU is expected to lose some seats to the AfD in the regional election, but the SDP — already a junior partner in Merz’s government — is likely to suffer much heavier loses. The SPD faces an especially tough battle in the cities such as Gelsenkirchen or Duisburg in the Ruhr area, once a beating heart of Germany’s industry.
Political scientist Oliver Lembcke points out that the AfD connects housing shortages, high rents or bad schools with immigration.
Subsequently, strong results for the AfD could amp up pressure on the governing coalition in Berlin, especially when it comes to questions of immigration, internal security and other social issues.
Read .
https://p.dw.com/p/50SCN
Skip next section Intoxicated man on church roof prompts emergency response
09/14/2025September 14, 2025
Intoxicated man on church roof prompts emergency response
An intoxicated man, scaled a 50-meter (165-foot) church roof in the southern city of Landshut, in order to take a picture on his mobile phone, the German news agency DPA reported, citing police.
His actions prompted a large emergency response, during which he was rescued with a turntable ladder, police said.
According to a police report, the 24-year-old managed to climb over scaffolding before making his way on the the nave of St Martin’s Church on Saturday evening.
He then climbed onto the 50-meter high ridge, sat down and took a photo of the view.
He suffered minor scrapes but now faces charges of trespassing and causing damage to property and he will also have to foot the bill of the rescue operation, police said.
https://p.dw.com/p/50Rzw
Skip next section No foul play in AfD candidate deaths, says regional party leader
09/14/2025September 14, 2025
No foul play in AfD candidate deaths, says regional party leader
The death of seven candidates from the far-right during the election campaign provoked much online speculation, and even drew comment from the party’s billionaire sympathizer, who called the deaths “weird.”
Although it was the highest number of deaths in any party in the run-up to Sunday’s elections, nine candidates from other parties also passed away in the preelection period, according to official data.
A spokesman for the state of North Rhine-Westphalia’s election commissioner told the DPA news agency that the number of deaths among candidates was “not significantly higher” than in previous campaigns.
Nonetheless, party co-leader seemed to condone conspiracy theories about the deaths by reposting an article by retired economist Stefan Homburg stating that the number of AfD candidates’ deaths was “statistically almost impossible.”
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 suggest, however, that the speculation about possible criminal causes of death reflected “the often ruthless battle that has been waged against the AfD for years” by German authorities.
The party, the strongest opposition group in Germany’s parliament, is at the national level.
https://p.dw.com/p/50Rtg
Skip next section What are the local elections in North Rhine-Westphalia about?09/14/2025September 14, 2025
What are the local elections in North Rhine-Westphalia about?
Local elections in North Rhine-Westphalia take place every five years. There are about 13.7 million eligible voters, who will be choosing city and municipal councils, county councils, mayors and district administrators in altogether 427 municipalities.
How many candidates are up?
Voters will be choosing among 20,000 candidates representing all the five main parties, as well as groupings that operate only at a regional or municipal level and independents.
What are the five main parties taking part?
Candidates are being put forward, though not in all municipalities, by Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s conservative Christian Democrats (CDU), 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).
What are the top contests?
The mayors of the state capital, , and North Rhine-Westphalia’s most-populous city, Cologne, will be among the posts determined by the results of the election.
Why does it matter?
The local elections are seen as a barometer of political sentiment in Germany, with the anti-immigrant AfD under particular scrutiny.
https://p.dw.com/p/50RiT
Skip next section Thousands of historic sites in Germany open doors to visitors
09/14/2025September 14, 2025
Thousands of historic sites in Germany open doors to visitors
is having a nationwide Day of Open Monuments on Sunday that will see 6,000 monuments open to the public.
The German Foundation for Monument Protection says visitors will be able to visit a wide range of sites, from historic homes and brewery cellars to church towers, factories and bunkers.
More than 8,000 events and 450 guided tours are planned, with most activities free of charge.
“You owe these experiences and private insights to almost 10,000 people who decided that their favorite places were a must-see,” said chair of the German Foundation for Monument Protection, Steffen Skudelny.
“As monument conservationists, your hosts are proud to have prepared the buildings for the present and the future. You should accept such an invitation!” Skudelny said.
https://p.dw.com/p/50RaF
Skip next section WATCH — Could migration mean Merz’s CDU loses ground?
09/14/2025September 14, 2025
WATCH — Could migration mean Merz’s CDU loses ground?
Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s party is expected to lose ground in Sunday’s election for the North Rhine-Westphalia state parliament.
Merz’s center-right conservatives are set to remain the largest force in the state, but polls show the far-right could make strong gains.
Political scientist Oliver Lembcke tells DW how this is partly caused by the government’s perceived failures on the issue of migration and integration.
https://p.dw.com/p/50RNH
Skip next section North Rhine-Westphalia election — what you need to know
09/14/2025September 14, 2025
North Rhine-Westphalia election — what you need to know
Some 18 million people live in , making it the most populous of Germany’s 16 states.
Around 20,000 seats are up for grabs in Sunday’s poll, in which city and municipal councils, county councils, mayors and district administrators will be voted in.
The vote is the first major electoral test of Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s government, .
The federal coalition is made up of the conservative Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and its Bavarian sister party, the Christian Social Union (CSU), and the center-left Social Democrats (SPD).
The NRW state election is also a gauge of state Premier Hendrik Wüst (CDU) and his government’s popularity.
Wüst, who has been governing in a coalition with the Green Party since 2022, has been tipped as a potential successor to Merz.
The far-right AfD is expected to do well in cities like Gelsenkirchen and Duisburg in the Ruhr area, according to polls.
https://p.dw.com/p/50RN7
Skip next section Voting begins in NRW election
09/14/2025September 14, 2025
Voting begins in NRW election
Polling stations opened at 8:00 a.m. (06:00 UTC/GMT) in North Rhine-Westphalia’s (NRW) local elections.
The center-right Christian Democratic Union (CDU) has regularly won the most votes statewide in the state’s local elections since 1999.
Chancellor Friedrich Merz says he will examine the results of Sunday’s vote carefully and draw conclusions for what they will mean for regional and national politics.
Polling stations will close their doors at 6:00 p.m local time.
https://p.dw.com/p/50RPE
Skip next section Western Germany: AfD set for success in local elections09/14/2025September 14, 2025
Western Germany: AfD set for success in local elections
The rise of the far-right in recent years is showing no signs of relenting.
Surveys ahead of Sunday’s local elections in North Rhine-Westphalia, once a bastion of and leftist support, suggest the anti-immigration AfD could win big in some parts of the state.
The industrial region is home to .
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https://p.dw.com/p/50RN8
Skip next section WATCH — Could ‘remigration’ blow up the AfD’s plan for power?
09/14/2025September 14, 2025
WATCH — Could ‘remigration’ blow up the AfD’s plan for power?
Germany’s far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) is the second-largest party in the national parliament and is gaining support in the polls. But one word — ‘remigration’ — risks dividing the party.
Featuring exclusive interviews, this deep dive reveals the internal battles, extremist ties and constitutional risks that could make or break the AfD’s future.
https://p.dw.com/p/50RNI
Skip next section Welcome to our coverage09/14/2025September 14, 2025
Welcome to our coverage
Guten morgen from a cloudy Bonn.
Voters in Germany’s most populous state North Rhine-Westphalia are heading to the polls for a local election that analysts say will be an .
Merz’s Christian Democrats (CDU), as well as its coalition partner the Social Democratic Party (SPD), will be hoping the overcast weather is not an omen for an upset at the ballot box.
The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) is primed to gain a stronger foothold in the region after historic gains in recent polls.
Stay tuned for rolling updates of the key vote in North Rhine-Westphalia, as well as the other major developments from Germany on Sunday.
https://p.dw.com/p/50RLE
The post Germany: Merz’s CDU set to win in NRW, AfD gaining ground appeared first on Deutsche Welle.
