AFD SURGE IN NRW: Immigration Concerns Triple Far-Right Vote, Threaten Merz Coalition

Early forecasts from local elections in North Rhine-Westphalia showed the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) more than tripling its support to about 16.5% compared with 2020, signaling a sharp surge for the party in western Germany. Chancellor Friedrich Merz's conservatives remained the largest party with roughly 34% of the vote, while the Social Democrats slipped and the Greens and Free Democrats faced heavy losses. Politicians and analysts linked the AfD's gains to voter concerns about immigration and a sluggish economy, and the party is aiming to expand beyond its eastern strongholds. The result is seen as a warning to Merz's new coalition government, highlighting political volatility at the state level. Germany's domestic spy agency had earlier classified the AfD as a right-wing extremist organization, a decision currently paused pending appeals.