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
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: One was killed, another injured in a raid by an Israeli drone on the city of Khiam in South Lebanon
London views possibility of setting fire to tanker in port of friendly country to Russia to damage port infrastructure, initiate an international probe: Moscow
One of London's scenarios involves setting up accident with 'undesirable' tanker in one of the bottlenecks of maritime communications: Russian foreign intelligence agency
London plans to organize major sabotage with tankers to declare transportation of Russian oil to international shipping: Russian foreign intelligence agency
UK intelligence agencies plan to use NATO allies to launch massive raid on 'Shadow Fleet': Russian foreign intelligence agency
Palestinian Ministry of Health: Two were martyred in Israeli shelling that targeted a besieged house in the town of Qabatiya in Jenin
At least 68 dead in migrant shipwreck off Yemen: IOM
Trump: We want to feed the people in Gaza, we do not want them to starve.
US President Donald Trump: We will impose sanctions on Russia if it does not end the war on Ukraine.
Israeli media: Polls show that 52% oppose Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu while only 29% support him.

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

A rescued crew member from the ETERNITY C vessel in a video released by the Yemeni Armed Forces on July 28, 2025 (Yemeni Military Media)

Yemen Navy reveals fate of targeted Eternity C ship crew

  • Politics
  • 28 Jul 2025
An Israeli tank explodes following an ambush by al-Qassam Brigades in Gaza, Occupied Palestine, undated (Al-Qassam Military Media)

Al-Qassam strikes Israeli vehicles in Gaza, inflicts casualties

  • Politics
  • 30 Jul 2025
UAE lodges complaint against Israeli ambassador over 'misbehavior'

UAE lodges complaint against Israeli ambassador over 'misbehavior'

  • Politics
  • 1 Aug 2025
Protesters chant anti-Israeli slogans as they carry a banner that reads:" Freedom for Palestine, Alliance stop the war," during a demonstration in support of Palestinians in Gaza, outside the Israeli embassy, in Athens, Monday, June 9, 2025 (AP)

Athens mayor slams Israeli ambassador over Gaza war, graffiti claim

  • Politics
  • 3 Aug 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
A member of the al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas, takes part in a parade as he celebrates a ceasefire agreement between Hamas and the Israeli regime in Deir al-Balah, Gaza Strip, Sunday, January 19, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Al-Qassam: We’ll allow aid to Israeli captives if Gaza siege ends

Freed Lebanese freedom fighter Georges Abdallah during an interview on Al Mayadeen, which aired on Sunday, August 3, 2025 (Al Mayadeen screengrab)
Politics

Exclusive: Resistance key to building state, Georges Abdallah says

United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres gives a statement about the situation in Gaza at UN headquarters, Friday, June 27, 2025 (AP)
Politics

UN warns Gaza faces water crisis, looming famine under Israeli siege

Israeli soldiers drive their armored personnel carrier along the Gaza Strip, in southern occupied Palestine, Wednesday, July 30, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Ex-Israeli general says Gaza starvation campaign isolated 'Israel'

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