The Guardian view on a green wake-up call for Friedrich Merz: Europe's political centre loses its way again | Editorial

"A come-from-behind victory for the Greens last Sunday, in the first of a series of important regional elections this year, suggests that Friedrich Merz's Christian Democrat-led national government is alienating voters in the same way as other centrist administrations in Europe."

"The son of immigrants who arrived in the country in the 1960s, he becomes Germany's first state premier with Turkish roots. But wider polarising trends were also at work. A substantial CDU lead ahead of the poll evaporated and the Social Democrats were almost wiped out, recording their worst election result since the second world war."

"The explanation lies in a contest dominated by crises that are eroding support for mainstream parties across the continent. Prolonged post-crash stagnation and an underfunded green transition has allowed the far right to combine anti-immigrant rhetoric with a focus on economic insecurity."

Baden-Württemberg, traditionally a conservative and economically powerful German state, delivered an unexpected Green victory in recent regional elections. The Greens' candidate Cem Özdemir, notably Germany's first state premier with Turkish roots, won despite the CDU holding a substantial pre-election lead. The Social Democrats suffered their worst result since World War II. The far-right Alternative for Deutschland achieved nearly 20%, its best performance outside eastern regions. This outcome reflects broader European trends where economic stagnation, underfunded green transitions, and job insecurity in traditional industries drive voters toward extremist parties. The AfD effectively combines anti-immigrant messaging with economic concerns, particularly resonating with voters worried about Chinese competition and automotive industry losses.

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