WASHINGTON (September 22, 2026) – The Alternative fur Deutschland (AfD) won the most votes in the recent state election in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, receiving 38.2% of the vote. The AfD is a far-right party that has called for strict anti-migrant and anti-refugee policies. The party has also criticized the European Union’s (EU) support for Ukraine. AfD leaders also oppose Ukraine joining the EU and NATO, and want to restore relations with Russia.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said he would stay in power despite the results. He has vowed to strengthen the German economy, such as reforming taxes, healthcare and pensions.
For more analysis on these developments, please consider Hope M. Harrison, Professor of History and International Affairs at The George Washington University where she has been since 1999. Hope is an expert on Germany, Russia, the Cold War, the Berlin Wall, and the politics and culture of memory. In 2024, she was awarded Germany's highest honor for her work on German history and her engagement in transatlantic relations: the Cross of the Order of Merit.
To schedule an interview, please contact Nadia Payne at nadia [dot] payne
gwu [dot] edu (nadia[dot]payne[at]gwu[dot]edu) or GW Media Relations at gwmediagwu [dot] edu (gwmedia[at]gwu[dot]edu).
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