AfD Achieves Best-Ever Berlin Election Result
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AfD Achieves Best-Ever Berlin Election Result
- The Alternative for Germany (AfD) secured 16.3% of the vote in the Berlin state election on September 20, 2026, marking its highest-ever result in the capital.
- Despite this gain, the AfD is unlikely to form a government in Berlin due to a political "firewall" from other parties.
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The AfD made significant gains in the Berlin state election held on September 20, 2026, increasing its vote share to 16.3%. This represents a notable rise from its 9.1% in the 2023 election, making it the party’s best performance to date in the capital. The party finished third in Berlin, behind the Left Party, which won with 25.7%, and the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), which secured 18.8%.
This election was part of a series of state elections, including Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania on the same day and Saxony-Anhalt two weeks prior. In Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, the AfD emerged as the strongest party with 38.2% of the vote, more than doubling its 2021 result. The party also achieved a significant victory in Saxony-Anhalt earlier in September, winning 43.8% of the vote.
Despite these successes, forming a government remains a challenge for the AfD due to a “political firewall” where other established parties refuse to coalesce with them. AfD co-leader Alice Weidel criticized this policy, particularly after the CDU’s poor performance in these state elections. The AfD’s campaign focused on issues such as migration, energy costs, and economic insecurity, advocating for faster deportations and renewed access to Russian gas.