The Duran Podcast Germany elections. SPD implodes, AfD triples, Merz panic
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Sep 15, 2025 Germany's political landscape is facing significant upheaval as the SPD falters while the AfD triples its support. Discussions revolve around the implications of this shift for traditional parties and potential authoritarian tendencies. The tragic events surrounding AfD candidates add a layer of complexity. The growing influence of the AfD raises concerns among political elites as demographic changes and economic decline spark intense debates, including talks of potentially banning the IFD party. It's a turbulent time for Germany's democracy.
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AfD Breakthrough In Industrial Heartland
- North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW) is Germany's industrial heartland with about 17–18 million people and major cities like Cologne and Düsseldorf.
- The AfD surged from ~5% to ~15%, taking votes in traditional SPD strongholds as deindustrialization shifts working-class support.
SPD's Rapid Decline
- The SPD collapsed to about 22.5% in NRW after decades of dominance, losing its traditional industrial working-class base.
- Mercouris predicts the SPD could fall toward 10% if current trends continue, accelerating its decline.
Realignment In Deindustrialized Regions
- AfD gains concentrated in deindustrializing areas where SPD used to be strongest, signalling a structural realignment of voter loyalties.
- The CDU still holds middle-class areas but now faces a growing right rival that could erode its support.