AfD Surge Sends Shockwaves Across Germany as CDU Holds Lower Saxony
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Germany’s, iNet99.id - Germany’s political landscape is undergoing a major transformation as the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) continues to gain ground, while Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s Christian Democratic Union (CDU) remains the strongest party in the latest local elections in Lower Saxony.
The CDU emerged as the leading party in the September 13, 2026, local elections in Lower Saxony, securing around 27.2 percent of the vote at the district level. The Social Democratic Party (SPD) followed with approximately 24.6 percent.
Although the CDU finished first, its result also reflected a decline compared with the previous local elections in 2021. The party lost around 4.5 percentage points, while the SPD suffered an even larger decline of approximately 5.4 points.
The most striking development, however, was the rapid rise of the AfD. The right-wing party secured approximately 15.9 percent of the district-level vote, representing an increase of around 11.3 percentage points compared with the 2021 local elections.
The result pushed the AfD into third place in Lower Saxony, ahead of the Greens, who received approximately 14.1 percent. The figures underline how quickly the AfD has expanded its electoral support in a state traditionally dominated by established political parties.
The Lower Saxony result is particularly significant because it demonstrates that the AfD’s growing influence is not confined to eastern Germany. The party has increasingly attracted voters across different regions, putting additional pressure on Germany’s traditional political centre.
The development comes just days after the AfD achieved a historic result in Saxony-Anhalt. In the September 6 state election, the party won around 43.8 percent of the vote, while the CDU received approximately 17.2 percent.
The contrasting results from Saxony-Anhalt and Lower Saxony illustrate the increasingly fragmented nature of German politics. While the CDU remains capable of winning elections in western Germany, the AfD is rapidly expanding its support and challenging the established party system.
For Friedrich Merz, the CDU victory in Lower Saxony offers some political relief. However, the AfD’s strong performance means the result cannot be viewed simply as a victory for the governing party. The broader trend shows that voter support is increasingly moving away from Germany’s traditional political parties.
Economic concerns, immigration, the cost of living and dissatisfaction with established political institutions are among the issues shaping the current political debate. These themes have also played an important role in the AfD’s efforts to expand its voter base.
The latest election results could therefore become an important warning for Germany’s mainstream parties. A CDU victory may preserve its position as a leading political force, but the rapid growth of the AfD demonstrates that the political balance is changing.
With further regional elections ahead, Germany’s major parties face growing pressure to respond to the AfD’s expansion. The results in Lower Saxony show that the CDU can still win, but the rise of the AfD has become one of the defining political stories in Germany ahead of the next electoral battles.
