Germany: CDU ahead in Lower Saxony local election
The CDU is on course to win in municipal polls in the northwestern state of Lower Saxony that were seen as a gauge of support for the far-right AfD party. DW has more.
Germany's Christian Democratic Union (CDU) emerged victorious in Lower Saxony's local elections, securing 27.7% of the vote ahead of the Social Democratic Party (SPD) at 24.5% and the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) at 16.5%, according to projections by Infratest dimap. The Greens came in fourth with 13.6%, followed by The Left at 5.9% and the Free Democratic Party (FDP) with 3.6%.
Lower Saxony's CDU leader Sebastian Lechner expressed optimism about the party's performance, noting that the state could buck the national trend. However, he acknowledged that the CDU faces a credibility problem that needs to be addressed. Chancellor Merk's CDU is set to face a significant challenge in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, where the party's support recently dropped to 7%.
Bavarian State Premier Markus Söder, who leads the conservative Christian Social Union (CSU) alongside the CDU, warned about the political consequences of the AfD's recent win in Saxony-Anhalt. He emphasized the need for improved government work, faster decision-making, and better communication. Söder warned that stagnation could fuel the AfD's further rise, particularly due to high energy prices.
In Wolfsburg, the mayoral race between incumbent Dennis Weilmann (CDU) and challenger Karsten Schneider (SPD) was decided. Weilmann secured 50.1% of the votes, while Schneider received 15.5%. A runoff election is necessary for the mayoral race in Oldenburg, where Ulf Prange (SPD) and Jascha Rohr (independent) are the main contenders with 33.16% and 30.54% of the votes, respectively.
The voter turnout for Lower Saxony's local elections was significant, with 50.67% of eligible voters casting their ballots, up from 43.99% in the 2021 local elections. Long lines formed at polling places in Hanover and other locations, with wait times reaching 40 minutes in the Südstadt district of Hanover. The polling stations closed at 6:00 p.m. local time (1600 GMT), and the initial results from the direct mayoral elections are expected by 7:00 p.m., while the preliminary statewide district results are due on Monday morning.
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