In Germany’s east, a rare center-left star looks to stem the far right’s rise
State premier Manuela Schwesig is close to stopping the AfD’s advance ahead of Sunday’s regional elections — but at a great cost to Chancellor Friedrich Merz.
Manuela Schwesig, a popular center-left politician, is in a strong position to prevent the far-right's rise in Germany's former East. As the premier of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania and lead candidate for the Social Democratic Party (SPD), she has narrowed the gap between her party and the far-right Alternative for Germany to just a few percentage points in recent polls.
Schwesig's success stems from her populist approach, attacking the unpopular Chancellor Friedrich Merz and portraying herself as a defender against the far right, using the slogan "Woman against Blue." Her strategy has transformed the election into a two-party race, weakening Merz's conservatives and potentially leading to the demise of the coalition he shares with the SPD.
Recent polls show the conservative Christian Democratic Union with a mere 7% support in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, putting the party at risk of failing to reach the 5% vote threshold required to enter the state parliament. If Schwesig successfully prevents an AfD victory, she could significantly boost her national profile and potentially run for chancellor, but her main appeal lies in her empathetic and relatable image, contrasting with Chancellor Merz's often-criticized approach.
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