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NRW elections: SPD fights for trust – AfD almost tripled!
After the local elections in North Rhine-Westphalia, the SPD and CDU are discussing the consequences of the election results and reforms in the welfare state.
NRW elections: SPD fights for trust – AfD almost tripled!
After the local elections in North Rhine-Westphalia on September 15, 2025, which achieved the highest turnout since 1994 with a voter turnout of 56.8 percent, those responsible for politics appear in a new light. [ZDF reports that] the CDU emerged as the strongest force in this election with 33.3 percent, followed by the SPD, which got 22.1 percent, a loss of 2.2 percentage points compared to the 2020 election. But the results not only have a direct impact on the party landscape, but also on the debate about citizens' money and the welfare state.
Spd leader Bärbel Bas said that the major disaster that many had feared had not happened. The votes of SPD supporters could now play an important role, especially before the upcoming runoff elections on September 28th. However, in Gelsenkirchen, where the AfD was initially predicted to be the strongest force, the SPD was able to retain the upper hand, which strengthens hopes of broad support against the AfD.
The AfD is on the rise
The AfD impressively almost tripled its election result and achieved 14.5 percent, but remains behind the nationwide results. [Tagesschau points out] that most AfD voters are convinced of the party's issues and do not just vote in protest. Even though the AfD was able to reach the runoff election in Gelsenkirchen, it lagged behind the SPD in the city council.
The political mood in North Rhine-Westphalia remains tense. The CDU and SPD appear to be stable, but the decline of the popular parties has long since begun. A look at the long-term development shows that the CDU and SPD together received around 75 percent of the votes in 2004 - in 2025 it was only 55 percent. This presents the old parties with new challenges and leaves room for alternatives.
Need for reform and social policy discussions
There are now voices in the ranks of the SPD who are demanding that the pressure on the welfare state be increased, especially in order to counteract the AfD. Duisburg's mayor Sören Link is calling for a strict course against social fraud and has already ordered a raid to counter the AfD's influence. He emphasizes that his actions represent social justice and that fraud cannot be tolerated. In this context, Bärbel Bas consulted with various economists to highlight the benefits of the welfare state and discussed possible reforms to regain trust.
In an ARD broadcast, Bas and Chancellor Friedrich Merz announced that they did not want to ignore the challenges of the welfare state, but instead wanted to overcome them through concrete reforms. Miersch from the SPD points out that the number of people who are not willing to work in the citizens' benefit system is extremely small, which could further fuel the debate about reforms to basic security.
On the occasion of these turbulent elections and the ongoing discussions since then, it will be crucial to look at the upcoming run-off elections. The Greens, considered the election's biggest losers, are hoping for a turnaround in these crucial run-offs and aiming for a return to the top, while the CDU and SPD must continue their fight for voters and against the AfD.
One result is already clear: the political landscape in North Rhine-Westphalia remains dynamic and prepared for change. In this sense, one thing is certain: voters can look forward to exciting developments in political events.