Germany’s far-right AfD makes gains in local elections, fended off by mainstream parties

The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) tripled its vote share in Lower Saxony's local elections, reaching 15.9%, while the center-right CDU won with 27.2%. The election tested the AfD's surge after its Saxony-Anhalt win, with mainstream parties maintaining their 'firewall' against coalition with the AfD. Voter turnout rose to 64.6% from 57%, and the AfD became the largest faction in Salzgitter's city council.

The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) tripled its vote share in Lower Saxony's local elections, reaching 15.9% compared to 4.6% in 2021, coming in third place. The election was closely watched as a test of the AfD's recent surge, following its historic win earlier in September in Saxony-Anhalt. The center-right Christian Democratic Union (CDU) of Chancellor Friedrich Merz won with 27.2%, down from 31.7% in 2021. The center-left Social Democrats (SPD) came second with 24.6%, down from 30%. The Greens dropped slightly to 14.1%. Voter turnout rose to 64.6% from 57%. In the industrial city of Salzgitter, AfD candidate Patricia Mair advanced to a mayoral runoff against CDU incumbent Frank Klingebiel, and the AfD became the largest faction in the city council with 13 projected seats. The AfD chairman in Lower Saxony, Ansgar Schledde, declared the party the 'clear winner of the evening.' German centrist leaders have maintained a 'firewall' against the AfD, refusing to form coalitions with the party since its founding in 2013.