The conservative Christian Social Union, which is in alliance with the Christian Democratic Union, emerged as the strongest party in Bavaria in Germany’s national elections, reversing its long downward trend.

According to the state returning officer, after all 47 constituencies were counted, the CSU secured 37.2 per cent, marking a gain of more than five percentage points from its historically poor 31.7 per cent result in 2021.

Even with the clear victory, the mood at CSU headquarters in Munich was mixed.

The party had hoped to reach around 40 per cent, but the result fell short of its expectations.

Meanwhile, according to the state’s returning officer, the far-right Alternative for Germany more than doubled its vote share to 19.0 per cent.

The AfD’s Bavarian state chairman Stephan Protschka called the result “outstanding,” telling public broadcaster BR that the party had prevailed despite all the resistance that was directed against the party.

It was a grim night for Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s Social Democrats in Bavaria, as the party dropped to fourth place with just 11.6 per cent, losing more than six percentage points compared to 2021.

The Greens, despite losses, managed to overtake the SPD with 12.0 per cent, securing third place.

The Left party performed surprisingly well in Bavaria, earning 5.7 per cent.

The pro-business Free Democrats, however, plunged below the 5 per cent threshold usually required to enter the Bundestag, Germany’s lower house of parliament, with just 4.2 per cent, losing more than half of its 2021 support.

The populist Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance also failed to gain traction, staying well below the 5 per cent mark. 

(dpa/NAN)