Merz coalition faces new test in Hesse local vote
Mar 14th 2026
Local municipal and district votes in Hesse on Sunday are being watched as a barometer for Chancellor Merz's ruling coalition after polls show rising support for the far-right AfD.
- Sunday's Hesse elections are mainly local but are being read as a national test for Chancellor Friedrich Merz's CDU-SPD coalition.
- The AfD is polling significantly higher than in 2023 and could become the second-largest party in several Hesse districts.
- In the 2023 state vote the CDU led with 28.5% and the SPD had 24%, so local shifts could feed national momentum ahead of more state votes.
- Hesse includes Frankfurt, Germany's financial hub, and the result will influence campaigning during a super election year with five state contests planned for 2026.
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