The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party made a significant breakthrough in local elections in North Rhine-Westphalia, nearly tripling its support from the previous vote, according to initial results, Politico reported.
The AfD won nearly 15% of the vote and came in third place - a significant increase from 5.1% five years ago. In the industrial city of Gelsenkirchen, the party's candidate is likely to face a runoff against a center-left candidate for mayor.
Chancellor Friedrich Merz's Christian Democratic Union (CDU) remains the leading force with about 33% of the vote, followed by the Social Democrats (SPD) with about 22%. Although not directly affecting national politics, the election is seen as an important indicator of public sentiment just four months after Merz came to power.
North Rhine-Westphalia Premier Hendrik Wüst described the result as a "reason for satisfaction" for the CDU, but warned that the rise of the AfD "does not allow for peace". He said the centrists should seek more adequate solutions to problems such as poverty, migration and high housing prices.
The AfD already scored a historic breakthrough in the federal elections in February, when it became the second political force with 20.6% - the strongest performance by a far-right party in Germany since World War II. The party continues to gain support despite being labeled extremist by domestic intelligence, sparking debate about whether to ban it.
Turnout rose to 58 percent on Sunday, suggesting analysts were drawing in new voters. National co-chair Alice Weidl called the results a "huge success," while regional representative Angie Seely-Zacharias said: "This is no longer just a vote of discontent."