Two surprising electoral defeats: The AfD party fails spectacularly in its strongholds
The far-right AfD party suffered unexpected setbacks in its strongholds in East Germany, after losing in two elections despite its recent rise as a dominant political force in the region.
In the federal elections of 2025, AfD achieved 20.2% nationwide, its best result so far. The party performed particularly strongly in Saxony, Brandenburg, and Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, reinforcing its position as a major force in East Germany, where its vote shares in some areas reached over 30 or even 40%.
However, the recent local elections have highlighted cracks in the momentum of the AfD. Despite strong opinion polls and increasing popularity, the party failed to win in two contests that it previously considered secure. These defeats reveal that although the AfD has become a major political force in most areas of the east, its grip is not absolute.
Political analysts believe that the results may indicate a potential ceiling for the influence of AfD in certain areas, especially where local issues and strong candidates from competing parties play crucial roles. These losses also raise questions about the sustainability of AfD's rise in the long term.
These defeats come at a time when the party is trying to expand its influence beyond its traditional base. Although its success in the federal elections confirms its strength, the losses show that electoral battles in the east are still competitive and far from guaranteed.