CDU leads forecast for municipal elections in Lower Saxony
In Germany, the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) is leading in the forecast for municipal elections in the state of Lower Saxony. According to an Infratest dimap forecast published by NDR, the party is receiving 27.7% of the vote, Deutsche Welle English reports.
Distribution of votes
The Social Democratic Party of Germany (SPD) is in second place with 24.5%. The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) is third, with a projected 16.5% of the vote.
The Greens have 13.6%, the Left has 5.9%, and the Free Democratic Party has 3.6%. The elections in Lower Saxony took place after growing support for the AfD in regional elections in Saxony-Anhalt a week earlier.
Statement by the CDU leader
The head of the CDU in Lower Saxony, Sebastian Lechner, said even before the forecast was released that his party could go against the nationwide trend in this state. He acknowledged that the elections were held under difficult circumstances and that the party feels dissatisfaction with Berlin's policies.
More current news is available on the UA.News Telegram channel Telegram.
Lechner also said that the CDU has a trust problem that needs to be resolved. According to DW, Chancellor Friedrich Merz is following the results of the vote: next Sunday, the CDU is expected to have a poor result in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, where support for the party in recent polls has fallen to 7%.
Mayoral elections
In Wolfsburg, incumbent CDU mayor Dennis Weilmann won in the first round with 50.1% of the vote and will retain his post. His opponents, Carsten Schneider of the SPD and Thomas Schlick of the AfD, received 15.5% and 14.1%, respectively.
Oldenburg will hold a runoff mayoral election: SPD representative Ulf Prange received 33.16%, while independent candidate Jascha Rohr received 30.54%. In Wilhelmshaven, independent candidate Eva Maria Haarmann won with around 55% of the vote and became the first woman to serve as the city's mayor.
