STUTTGART: Germany’s Green Party secured a narrow lead over Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s conservative CDU in a regional election on Sunday, according to exit polls, delivering a political setback ahead of national elections later this year as support for the far right continues to grow.
More than 31 per cent of voters backed the Greens led by Cem Ozdemir, exit polls released by broadcasters ARD and ZDF showed. The CDU followed closely with roughly 30 per cent of the vote.
Updated projections from both broadcasters indicated that the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) significantly increased its support compared with the 2021 election, securing third place with around 18 per cent.
The CDU hopes the Greens’ slim advantage could shrink once official vote counting progresses overnight. Until recently, the party had maintained a comfortable lead in opinion polls in the state, though the gap narrowed in recent months. The latest survey before the election showed both parties tied at about 28 per cent.
The vote took place in the southwestern state of Baden-Wuerttemberg. Another regional election will soon follow in neighbouring Rhineland-Pfalz, while a series of state polls are scheduled for September in eastern Germany — areas where the AfD is expected to perform strongly.
CDU’s campaign in Baden-Wuerttemberg was led by Manuel Hagel, a 37-year-old former bank manager. His campaign faced controversy after an eight-year-old video resurfaced showing him commenting on the appearance of female students during a school visit, drawing criticism from across the political spectrum.
Meanwhile, Greens candidate Ozdemir, 60, could become Germany’s first state premier of Turkish heritage if his party ultimately finishes first and forms a governing coalition.
