German Social Democrats lose Rhineland-Palatinate after 35 years as Merz's CDU wins state election
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Germany's Christian Democratic Union (CDU) won the state election in Rhineland-Palatinate, ending 35 years of Social Democratic Party (SPD) rule in the western German state. The victory represents a significant gain for CDU leader Friedrich Merz as his center-right party reclaimed control of a state the Social Democrats had governed since 1991. The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) more than doubled its vote share in the election, reflecting the party's continued growth across German state politics. The result deals a blow to Chancellor Olaf Scholz's SPD, which has been struggling in regional elections as Germany faces economic challenges and political fragmentation.