Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Araghchi: Together with all Iranians, I thank our brave Armed Forces who remain ready to defend our dear country until their last drop of blood, and who responded to any attack by the enemy until the very last minute
Araghchi: The military operations of our powerful Armed Forces to punish Israel for its aggression continued until the very last minute, at 4am
Araghchi: The final decision on the cessation of our military operations will be made later
Araghchi: However, provided that the Israeli regime stops its illegal aggression against the Iranian people no later than 4 am Tehran time, we have no intention to continue our response afterwards
Araghchi: As of now, there is NO "agreement" on any ceasefire or cessation of military operations
Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi: As Iran has repeatedly made clear: Israel launched war on Iran, not the other way around
United States: The State Department strongly advises its citizens against traveling to Syria due to ongoing risks of terrorist violence.
Iraq: Al Mayadeen's correspondent: The explosion hit a radar as well as an electrical technical department in the Taji Camp north of Baghdad
Iraq: Al Mayadeen's correspondent: Preliminary reports indicate that the explosions that were heard in the surroundings of the Taji camp north of Baghdad were the result of a attack carried out by an unknown drone
Reuters citing an unnamed official: US president Donald Trump told Qatar's emir that Israel had agreed to the ceasefire and asked for Doha's help persuading Tehran to also agree to the ceasefire deal

Scholz's Social Democrats dealt a mighty blow in regional election

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 12 Feb 2023 23:14
3 Min Read

In a court-ordered rerun of the election in 2021, the Chancellor's party slips to its worst postwar result in the capital.

  • x
  • Berlin elections
    A German citizen placing a vote in a ballot at a polling station in Berlin (Reuters)

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz's Social Democrats (SPD) on Sunday suffered a heavy setback in a regional poll in Berlin, falling behind the opposition conservatives in the capital for the first time in over two decades.

In a court-ordered rerun of the election in 2021, the Chancellor's party slipped to their worst postwar result in the capital, 18.2%, where they have held the mayor's office since 2001.

The conservative Christian Democratic Union of Germany (CDU) surged to around 28%, up from 18%, an exit poll by broadcaster ZDF showed.

Berlin, one of the country's 16 federal states, was ordered by courts to return to the ballot boxes after the 2021 election was found not to meet basic democratic standards amid widespread voting issues.

The outcome of the rerun puts a question mark on the continuation of the coalition between the Social Democrats, Greens, and far-left Linke party.

Early figures suggested that the Greens could finish ahead of the SPD with around 18.2% of the vote. The Linke party's share of the vote was meanwhile estimated at around 12.8%.

The Social Democrats seem to have been penalized by voters following violent scenes in the capital over the New Year, with revelers targeting the emergency services with fireworks in neighborhoods with a large immigrant population.

The election was also marked by discontent over rising rental prices in the capital and disputes over transport policy.

Related News

EU will unite against Trump tariffs, but open to 'compromise': Scholz

Germany's Sholz says 'strong Ukraine' essential for Europe's security

The result of the elections reflects the Social Democrats' struggles nationally, as Scholz's government -- in power for just over a year -- wrestles with rampant inflation and the fallout of the war in Ukraine.

The difficulties for Scholz's coalition with the Greens and the liberal Free Democratic Party (FDP) have been to the benefit of opposition parties. Along with the conservative CDU, the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) increased its share of the vote slightly to around 9% in Sunday's rerun, according to the estimates. 

The rerun in Berlin is only the second time in German postwar history that a state election has been declared invalid. In 1991, irregularities were reported in a vote in Hamburg.

The decision to organize the 2021 election on the same day as a national vote, a local housing referendum, and the Berlin marathon led to widespread logistical problems. 

Ballot papers got stuck in traffic as roads were closed for the marathon, with lines forming outside polling stations struggling to process votes.

Sunday's election took place under the watchful gaze of international election observers from the Council of Europe, invited in by the city itself to restore trust after the 2021 fiasco.

Berlin also called up 42,000 election helpers -- 8,000 more than last time around -- and gave polling stations extra ballots to avoid shortages.

The German parliament has also resolved for national elections to be partly repeated in Berlin, with the date of that vote yet to be set.

Read more: 250K+ people sign petition urging Scholz to stop weapons to Ukraine

  • Olaf Scholz
  • Germany
  • Berlin
  • Social Democrat

Most Read

Israeli workers survey the site where a missile launched from Iran struck in Haifa on Sunday, June 22, 2025. (AP)

True Promise 3, wave 20: 40 missiles launched, Kheibar-Shekan in first

  • Politics
  • 22 Jun 2025
Rescue team work at the site where a missile launched from Iran struck Tel Aviv, Israel, Monday, June 16, 2025 (AP)

Wave 12 of Operation True Promise 3 launched, Sejjil deployed: IRGC

  • Politics
  • 18 Jun 2025
Iran launches missile barrage to Tel Aviv, casualties reported

True Promise 3, wave 14: Tel Aviv targeted, casualties reported

  • Politics
  • 19 Jun 2025
Iran's heavy barrages impact multiple Israeli targets overnight

Iran's heavy barrages impact multiple Israeli targets overnight

  • Palestine
  • 18 Jun 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
President Donald Trump speaks with reporters upon arriving at Morristown Municipal Airport in Morristown, N.J., Friday, June 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)
Politics

Trump lashes out at media outlets for downplaying Iran strike impact

ap
Politics

Turkey denies role in US-Israeli strikes on Iran nuclear sites

Iran targets US air base in Qatar with 'destructive' missile strike
MENA

Iran retaliates, targets US air base in Qatar with missiles

Demonstrators hold up a banner during a protest by Palestine Action group in London, Monday, June 23, 2025. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein)
Politics

UK signals 'terror' ban on 'Palestine Action', sparking protests

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS