Högerextrema AFD appears to be the second-largest party in the German EU election after the conservative CDU/CSU, putting pressure on Olaf Scholz's coalition government.
Despite several scandals during the campaign, AFD is strongly advancing in Germany, particularly in former East Germany, according to preliminary results from German TV.
The party is receiving a total of nearly 16% support, compared to CDU/CSU's substantial 30%. Olaf Scholz's social democratic SPD is settling for 14%, while The Greens are landing on 12% and the liberal FDP on 5%.
The result, if it stands, will put pressure on the grand coalition government, where all parties have lost, notes Valentin Kreilinger, a political scientist at the Swedish Institute for European Political Studies (Sieps).
Newly formed left-wing movement BSW is landing on 4% and the Left Party on 3%. The pan-European party Volt is also making an unexpectedly good showing with 3%.
Compared to the 2019 election, it is mainly The Greens who have taken a step back – from 20.5% then to 12% now. According to the exit poll, it is mainly many young people who have abandoned the party. Meanwhile, AFD has increased by 10% among voters under 30, reports TV channel ZDF.
If the result of this weekend's election has an impact on future elections, Scholz and the other parties will have to respond by September.
At that point, three federal states in eastern Germany – Saxony, Thuringia, and Brandenburg – will be holding local elections. With AFD's strong showing in the EU election, the traditional giants may face problems, says Valentin Kreilinger.
This is how Germany voted in the EU election, according to the preliminary results reported (with party group affiliation and difference from the 2019 result in parentheses):
CDU/CSU (conservative EPP): 30.2% (+1.3)
Alternative for Germany (unaffiliated): 15.9% (+5)
SPD (social democratic S&D): 13.9% (-1.8)
Alliance 90/The Greens (environmentalist Gr/EFA): 11.9% (-8.6)
Bündnis Sahra Wagenknecht (not affiliated): 6.1% (not applicable)
FDP (liberal RE): 5.1% (-0.3)
The Left (left-wing GUE/NGL): 3% (-2.5)
Volt (not affiliated): 2.5% (+1.8)
Others: 10.5% (-1.7)
Source: ZDF
