In a decisive electoral outcome, the citizens of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern have firmly rejected the AfD in the Landrat Stichwahlen, opting instead for candidates representing the democratic center. The elections, held on Sunday, saw the victory of Stefan Kerth in Vorpommern-Rügen, Michael Sack in Vorpommern-Greifswald, and Thomas Müller in Mecklenburgische Seenplatte, each defeating their AfD opponents by significant margins.
Stefan Kerth, the incumbent Landrat in Vorpommern-Rügen, secured a commanding 75.1% of the vote against AfD's Carlos Rodrigues. Kerth's victory was celebrated in Stralsund, where he acknowledged the challenges ahead, particularly in managing the county's budget. Similarly, Michael Sack of the CDU won 61.4% of the vote in Vorpommern-Greifswald, maintaining his position against AfD's Inken Arndt.
The Mecklenburgische Seenplatte witnessed a new Landrat being elected, with Thomas Müller of the CDU obtaining 59.7% of the votes against AfD's Enrico Schult. The election results in these three counties underscore a clear preference for continuity and stability over the political upheaval represented by the AfD. The outcomes also reflect a broader rejection of the AfD's political agenda, following the party's recent electoral successes in other parts of Germany.
Political analysts have noted that the victories of Kerth, Sack, and Müller signal a strong endorsement of the democratic center's policies and governance. The results are seen as a setback for the AfD, which had hoped to replicate its success in Thüringen. However, the clear margins of victory for the CDU and independent candidates suggest that the majority of voters in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern remain committed to democratic values and reject the polarizing politics of the AfD.