The March 8, 2026, election for the Baden-Württemberg state parliament resulted in victory for the Greens led by Cem Özdemir, alongside a record result for the AfD and a defeat for the parties of the federal coalition.

Greens' victory

The Greens secured around 30% of the vote, maintaining their leading position in the state despite strong competition from the CDU.

AfD's record result

The Alternative for Germany took third place with 19% of the vote, representing an almost twofold increase in support.

New state leader

Cem Özdemir has a chance to become the first state premier of Turkish descent, succeeding Winfried Kretschmann.

SPD and FDP defeat

The SPD achieved a historically low 5.5%, and the FDP found itself outside the state parliament for the first time in decades.

The March 8, 2026, election for the Baden-Württemberg state parliament ended with victory for the Greens, who secured around 30% of the vote. The party maintained its leading position in the state, despite incumbent premier Winfried Kretschmann not seeking re-election. The new leader of the Greens is Cem Özdemir, a former federal minister, who, thanks to this result, has a chance to become the first-ever state premier in Germany of Turkish descent. The election result means a fierce battle for leadership in the region, as the CDU gained support at nearly the same level as the winners. Representatives of the AfD, which recorded a sharp rise in support, will also sit in the state parliament of Baden-Württemberg.

The biggest winner in terms of growth dynamics turned out to be the Alternative for Germany (AfD), which took third place with a result of nearly 19%. The party almost doubled its support compared to the previous election, which experts interpret as a sign of the party's progressing professionalization of its structures. According to an analysis by the Polish Press Agency, the far-right formation is systematically building its personnel base and preparing for potential participation in government in the future. The 2026 election was held under a new electoral law, which introduced a two-vote system (for a candidate and a party list) and lowered the voting age to 16. Baden-Württemberg had been governed since 2011 by Winfried Kretschmann, Germany's first premier from the Greens, who built his popularity on pragmatic centrism. Traditionally, this region was a stronghold of the CDU, which held power here continuously for nearly 58 years before the 2011 breakthrough.

A historic defeat was suffered by the parties forming the current federal government in Berlin, particularly the SPD, which gained just 5.5% of the vote. This is the lowest result for the Social Democrats in this state, casting doubt on their future role in regional politics. The FDP and The Left failed to cross the electoral threshold, drastically limiting the coalition-building capacity of the traditional mainstream parties. Commentators point out that the German political scene is still feeling the effects of the legacy of the Angela Merkel era, which impacts the country's current economic condition and social mood. 2026 Baden-Württemberg election results: 1. Zieloni — approx. 30%; 2. CDU — approx. 30%; 3. AfD — approx. 19%; 4. SPD — 5.5%

Mentioned People

  • Cem Özdemir — German politician for Alliance 90/The Greens, former Federal Minister of Food and Agriculture and Federal Minister of Education and Research, candidate for Premier of Baden-Württemberg.
  • Winfried Kretschmann — German politician and teacher, activist for Alliance 90/The Greens, Premier of Baden-Württemberg since 2011.
  • Angela Merkel — Former Chancellor of Germany, whose political legacy continues to influence the current situation in the country.