The Social Democratic Party (SPD), led by German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, has won the local elections in the state of Brandenburg with 30.9%, leaving the far-right, anti-immigration AfD in second place with 29.2%, according to the preliminary official results.
This outcome is a relief for Chancellor Scholz’s party, as earlier polls had indicated the AfD might take the lead. However, the significant percentage achieved by the far-right party is notable. With the 30 out of 88 seats it is expected to hold, it will have the power to block decisions requiring a two-thirds majority.
This result is the third significant achievement for the AfD, which has already won elections in Thuringia and finished second in Saxony.
The SPD has won every election in Brandenburg since Germany’s reunification in 1990.
The left-wing Greens and the neoliberal FDP, both part of the federal coalition government with the SPD, failed to reach the 5% threshold needed to enter the Brandenburg parliament.
The party “For Reason and Justice” (BSW), led by Sahra Wagenknecht, currently holds third place, while the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) is in fourth.
Voter turnout in Sunday’s election was notably high at 72.9%, significantly surpassing the 61.3% turnout in the previous Brandenburg election.
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