(de-news.net) – In the municipal elections held in North Rhine-Westphalia, the Christlich Demokratische Union Deutschlands (CDU) once again emerged as the leading political force, albeit with a slight decline compared to its previous performance, securing approximately 33 percent of the vote. The Sozialdemokratische Partei Deutschlands (SPD) also experienced electoral losses, attaining just over 22 percent. The Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) markedly increased its vote share to 14.5 percent, while Bündnis 90/Die Grünen suffered significant setbacks, falling to 13.5 percent. Die Linke improved its standing to 5.6 percent, whereas the Freie Demokratische Partei (FDP) and Bündnis Sahra Wagenknecht (BSW) received 3.7 percent and slightly above 1 percent, respectively.
With the exception of Hamm and Herne—where SPD incumbents Marc Herter and Frank Dudda achieved outright victories—the majority of mayoral offices will be determined through run-off elections scheduled in two weeks. Hendrik Wüst, Minister-President of North Rhine-Westphalia and CDU state chairman, reportedly interpreted the outcome as a clear endorsement of his party’s municipal leadership and emphasized the imperative for democratic parties to address pressing societal challenges in view of the AfD’s electoral gains. Jens Spahn, chairman of the CDU/CSU parliamentary group in the Bundestag, considered the result a positive signal for the federal CDU-SPD coalition, advocating for pragmatic governance while cautioning against the neglect of issues such as poverty-induced migration and failed integration.
SPD chairwoman Bärbel Bas underscored the necessity for her party to re-establish its relevance among working-class constituencies. AfD federal chairman Tino Chrupalla reportedly celebrated his party’s performance as a major success, reaffirming its claim to national representational status. Felix Banaszak, co-chair of Bündnis 90/Die Grünen, acknowledged the current difficulties facing progressive environmental policy and stressed the importance of offering a credible counterweight to the intensifying influence of right-wing political currents.
Approximately 13.7 million citizens were eligible to vote, with turnout reaching 56.8 percent—a notable increase compared to the 2020 elections. Following the vote, senior figures from both the CDU and SPD categorically rejected any form of cooperation with the AfD. CDU Secretary General Paul Ziemiak reiterated the party’s formal incompatibility resolution and emphasized the principle of democratic solidarity in run-off scenarios. SPD Bundestag member Rainer Bollmann echoed this stance, warning against inflating the AfD’s political significance and characterizing it as a protest movement rather than a legitimate mainstream party. Henning Höne, chairman of the FDP in North Rhine-Westphalia, advised that public discourse should prioritize substantive societal concerns over the prominence of the AfD.
