German state premier Schwesig aims to block far-right surge ahead of regional vote

State premier Manuela Schwesig of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania is seeking to keep the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) out of power in the upcoming regional election, a move that has sharply reduced support for Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s Christian Democratic Union (CDU) in the state. Recent polls show the CDU hovering near the 5% threshold needed for parliamentary representation, a historic low for the party in any German election.

Schwesig, a former tax inspector and former family minister, has framed her campaign around the slogan “Frau gegen Blau” (“Woman against Blue”), directly targeting the AfD’s party colour. She has also criticised Merz’s policies on fuel prices and social reforms, describing the lack of a price cap as “fully unacceptable.”

“I’m pretty angry at Chancellor Merz,” Schwesig said during a citizen dialogue in Rostock.

CDU officials argue that Schwesig’s personalized campaign is weakening the political centre and inadvertently aiding the AfD. Party general secretary Franziska Hoppermann told the German Press Agency that Schwesig’s approach “takes the CDU out of the running” and “helps the AfD.”

Schwesig counters that a vote for the SPD is the only realistic way to prevent the AfD from becoming the strongest party in the state. She highlighted recent social measures, such as free pre-school education, discounted train passes for apprentices and seniors, and a push for fairer pension reforms.

“Reforms, yes, but they must be fair, and they must also be reasonable,” Schwesig told the crowd.

If the SPD succeeds in blocking the AfD, Schwesig’s national profile could rise, potentially positioning her as a future chancellor candidate. The election is being watched as a barometer for the broader struggle between Germany’s mainstream parties and the far right.