Germany’s Alternative for Germany (AfD) has posted a breakthrough result in a western regional election, securing close to 20 percent of the vote in Rhineland-Palatinate and marking another strong performance outside its traditional eastern base.
The party placed third behind Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and the Social Democrats, long the dominant forces in the state.
The outcome represents the strongest showing by a third party in Rhineland-Palatinate since World War II, with AfD more than doubling its support compared to the previous election in 2021. It also surpasses the party’s earlier record in western Germany, set just weeks ago in Baden-Württemberg, signalling growing momentum beyond former East German regions.
AfD figures credited the result to increasing backing among workers and younger voters, with regional candidate Jan Bollinger describing the party as gaining traction as a “workers’ party.” German broadcaster ZDF reported that the party drew notable support away from the centre-left Social Democrats.
The result reflects a broader upward trend for AfD nationwide, driven by voter frustration with established legacy parties and ongoing debates around immigration and European Union policy. Earlier in the year, the party also secured a temporary legal win after a Cologne court blocked an attempt by Germany’s domestic intelligence agency to formally classify it as a confirmed right-wing “extremist group”, pending further review.
Die Landtagswahl in Rheinland-Pfalz hat gezeigt: Die AfD ist die Zukunft! Wir sind die mit Abstand stärkste Kraft bei jungen Erwachsenen. Herzlichen Dank für eure Unterstützung! pic.twitter.com/Tujxyw3iDw
— AfD (@AfD) March 23, 2026
