The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) had a clear rebound this Sunday in the regional elections in Bavaria and Hesse and took second place in both federal states behind the Christian Social Union (CSU) and the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) respectively, according to the polls.
Both Bavarian Prime Minister Markus Söder and his colleague Boris Rhein from Hesse are in a position to continue their coalitions with the Free Voters (FW) and the Greens respectively.
In Bavaria, the CSU won 36.5 percent, the Greens 15.5 percent, the FW 14 percent, the Social Democratic Party (SPD) 8.5 percent and the AfD 16 percent. The Liberal Party (FDP) is clearly below 5 percent and therefore outside the regional parliament.
In Hesse, the CDU won 34.5 percent, the Greens 15.5 percent, the SPD 15 percent, the AfD 17 percent and the FDP 5 percent, which would make it into the the regional parliament.
In addition to the rise of the AfD, the results punish the three governing parties in Berlin, especially the SPD of Chancellor Olaf Scholz and the FDP of Finance Minister Christian Lindner.
The Greens have also suffered losses in the two federal states but to a lesser extent than the other coalition partners.