The recent regional elections in Bavaria and Hesse in Germany have dealt a major blow to Chancellor Olaf Scholz’ left-wing-led national coalition. The conservative and right-wing populist parties have made significant gains in both regions, leading to a decline in support for Scholz’s coalition partners. This outcome will have wide-ranging implications for the future of the coalition and the national political landscape.
In Hesse, the conservative CDU has emerged as the winner, securing 34.5% of the vote. This represents a substantial increase in their support compared to the previous election. The far-right AfD has also seen a slight improvement in their performance, projected to receive 18% of the vote, placing them in second place. On the other hand, all three parties in Scholz’s coalition, including the Greens and the centre-left SPD, have experienced a decrease in their support, with the SPD facing a catastrophic decline to 8%. Additionally, the free-market liberal FDP is hovering around the 4.9% mark, risking falling below the 5% threshold required to remain in parliament.
Similar trends can be observed in Bavaria, where the conservative CSU, which has maintained power in the region since 1946, secured the most votes. However, with only 36.7% support, this is their worst result since 1958. The CSU will likely need to form a coalition with the right-wing populist Freie Wähler in order to stay in power. The insurgent Free Voters, with their predicted 15% of the vote, will feel emboldened by their best result yet and may demand additional ministry positions.
These election results will have broader implications at the national level, as they indicate a shift in public sentiment towards conservative and right-wing populist parties. Germany is set to face several key elections over the next two years, culminating in the national parliamentary elections in 2025. The success of the AfD and the Free Voters in Bavaria and Hesse will undoubtedly embolden the far-right party and shape the national political discourse. There is a growing possibility that the AfD could emerge as the leading party in regional elections in three eastern German states next year, according to current polls.
Furthermore, the rise of the AfD and the Free Voters may erode the conservative firewall that has thus far prevented cooperation with far-right parties on a local level. This could have significant ramifications for future coalition formations and the overall dynamics of German politics. The poor performance of all three parties in Scholz’s federal coalition will undoubtedly put pressure on their leaders to assert their core values, potentially exacerbating differences between them.
The outcome of these elections will also have an impact on the FDP, which now faces insecurity after being pushed out of parliament in both Bavaria and possibly Hesse. As a business-friendly party, the FDP already faces challenges in aligning with the left-leaning Greens, and this setback is likely to make them more determined to assert their position in Berlin.
The dominant topics in both elections were national issues rather than regional concerns. The conservative and right-wing parties focused their campaigns on criticizing Berlin’s plans to phase out fossil fuel boilers and addressing high levels of migration. In contrast, the centrist premier of Hesse positioned himself as the stable conservative alternative to the perceived “left-wing-Green chaos” in the capital. These campaigns have influenced the electorate’s decision, reflecting discontent with the government’s handling of various crises, such as the war in Ukraine, energy costs, and inflation.
Although Germany has largely weathered these challenges, low unemployment rates, a shift away from Russian energy, and stabilized inflation, the election results indicate that many voters do not share the same perception. The success of conservative and right-wing populist parties in these regional elections reflects a growing discontent with the current government’s policies and a desire for change.
The implications of these election results are far-reaching, affecting the stability of Scholz’s coalition, the positioning of major parties, and the broader political landscape in Germany. As the country approaches future elections, it is clear that these regional outcomes will shape the strategies and choices of all major political actors. The rise of the AfD and the strengthening of conservative and right-wing populist forces may have a lasting impact on German politics in the years to come.