The election results from regional and local elections in France and Germany show a divided picture. The results serve as an important gauge for national dynamics and indicate shifts in support for various political movements.
In both countries, the elections are seen as more than just local ballots. The outcomes are widely interpreted as a test for national politics and as a preview of upcoming key elections. Later this year, elections will be held in three additional German federal states, and in France the presidential election campaign will kick off this year.
Major Cities
The outcomes are mixed in both countries. Major cities play a central role in interpreting the elections. In France, cities like Paris and Marseille are crucial, while in Germany, large urban areas and states heavily influence the overall picture.
Promotion
It is notable that established centrist parties do not dominate the political momentum everywhere in France and Germany. Attention shifts to changes among parties on the wings, making the political playing field less predictable.
Greens
Parties and their candidates achieve visible successes in both countries. They manage to win support in multiple cities and regions, playing an important role in the election results. For example, the Greens win the mayoralty in Munich while the CSU Christian Democrats suffer significant losses in conservative Bavaria.
The election results immediately lead to pressure on party leaders and strategic decisions. In both countries, initial reactions to the results mainly look ahead to the consequences for national politics and the longer-term position of parties. This particularly applies in Germany to the SPD and CDU (and the continued rise of the AfD) and in France to President Macron’s centrist coalition.