After the SPD’s dramatic slump in the Rhineland‑Palatinate state election, Minister‑President Alexander Schweitzer officially accepted the core defeat. During an evening party for his party in Mainz he addressed those who will probably be part of the upcoming coalition-especially the CDU-saying, “You fought well. The result just wasn’t enough for us, but we will form a proper government because that is what the people of Rhineland‑Palatinate deserve”.
Schweitzer had previously been largely absent from public view. In a televised gathering of top candidates on ZDF he was represented by State Health Minister Clemens Hoch, and he did not appear at the subsequent state press conference.
According to the most recent poll averages from ARD and ZDF, the Social Democrats are projected at 26.2 %, their worst performance in the state’s history. The ruling CDU leads with 30.8 %. Early statements from the parties suggest a grand coalition headed by CDU politician Gordon Schnieder will likely be formed.
The AfD is expected to finish third, averaging around 20 %-roughly twice the result of the previous election. The Greens, still part of the “traffic‑light” coalition in Mainz, are projected at 8.1 %. Neither the FDP (2.2 %) nor the Free Voters (4.0 %) will pass the 5 % threshold and are therefore unlikely to secure seat in the Landtag. The Left with 4.4 % falls below the threshold as well. The remaining parties together average about 4.6 %.