By obtaining 13.9% of the votes, according to provisional results, the Social Democrats obtained the worst result in the national elections since 1949, and even worse than in the European elections of 2019 (15.8%), which already showed a sharp decline compared to the 2021 elections. Legislative elections (25.7%).
They thus lagged behind the conservatives (30%) and the far-right Alternative for Germany (15.9%), even though this party has been the target of several recent scandals.
Schulz's partners in government, the Green Party (11.9%) and the Liberals (5.2%), did not fare well either.
This “coalition of losers,” as the center-left Sueddeutsche Zeitung newspaper described it, achieved even more disastrous results in eastern Germany, where regional elections in three “states” are scheduled to be held in September. In these areas, the far right won by a large margin on Sunday.
– 'Danger of paralysis' –
The weekly newspaper “Der Spiegel” noted that “Schulz participated heavily in this campaign and did nothing. On the contrary, his strong presence may have reinforced the downward trend” of the Social Democratic Party. He added, “After this personal defeat, he must say how he wants to continue ruling.” […]. Otherwise, he warned, the country risks paralysis.
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