European elections 2024: AfD ascent - what does that mean for Germany?

European elections 2024: AfD ascent - what does that mean for Germany?

München, Deutschland - Today, on June 9, 2025, a variety of historical events remind you of past turning points in German history. The European elections in Germany took place on June 9, 2024, in which the Union emerged as the winner with 30.0 percent. The alternative for Germany (AfD) achieved second place with 15.9 percent, despite a chaotic election campaign that was characterized by scandals. These figures come from a detailed processing of the election events that Südkurier

The election participated 64.8 percent of the citizens entitled to vote in Germany, the highest turnout since 1979. In the entire EU area, a similar picture with average turnout is shown, which was below 50 percent in many Member States. The fact that there is an obligation to vote in countries such as Belgium and Luxembourg, which leads to over 80 % voter participation in countries such as Belgium and Luxembourg. In contrast, Germany, with its turnout of 64.8 %, cuts relatively well and shows an increasing tendency compared to the last election 2019. Data on this has Federal Center for Political Education

results of the parties

The results of the European election 2024 showed significant shifts in the political spectrum of Germany. The Union secured 29 seats in the European Parliament, while the SPD emerged as a loser with a voter share of 13.9 percent and 14 seats. The Greens reached 11.9 percent and thus 12 seats. The AfD, on the other hand, achieved its strongest performance in nationwide elections with 15 MPs. The detailed distribution of seats can be found in the table below:

reactions to the election results

The reactions within the AfD on the election results are mixed. Party chairman Alice Weidel and Tino Chrupalla were positive about second place, while the campaign team was faced with internal scandals. Disappings emerged among the top candidates because Maximilian Krah and Peter Bystron were under pressure. The discussions about the future alignment of the AfD and possible changes in the leadership have already started and according to Tagesschau the next day.

In addition, it should be mentioned that the voting result among the young voters entitled to vote shows that a significant number of minimalist parties were faced with minimalist parties. This can be interpreted as an indicator of a change in voter behavior, which may result in sustainable changes in the political landscape.