AfD brings Leif-Erik Holm into the race against Schwesig in MV!

AfD brings Leif-Erik Holm into the race against Schwesig in MV!

A year before the state elections in the state of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, there are tensions in the political landscape. The Alternative for Germany (AfD) plans to nominate Leif-Erik Holm as its candidate for prime minister. His nomination will be finally decided at a party conference in November, with Holm also being co-national leader of the AfD. It is interesting that Holm was nominated as a direct candidate for the Schwerin constituency and will not run on the state list, which makes clear his ambitions to challenge Prime Minister Manuela Schwesig (SPD) in her own constituency.

At an election meeting, Holm received a whopping 88 percent of the votes for the direct candidacy in the Schwerin I constituency. He not only wants to beat Schwesig, but also intends to become prime minister. Even though Enrico Schult, a prominent name in the AfD parliamentary group, was initially considered the favorite, he has changed his strategy and is planning to run for first place on the list in order to form a dual leadership with Holm. This underlines the dynamic changes within the party.

Elections and surveys in focus

The latest surveys show that the SPD, which clearly triumphed in the 2021 state elections in Schwerin, has now significantly lost support. In April 2025, the SPD only got 21 percent, while the AfD reversed the trend with 29 percent. This is an interesting signal for the upcoming elections, as the AfD aims to win the 2026 state elections with a clear lead. The political mood in the state is reflected in the surveys, which are, however, subject to a certain degree of uncertainty. The statistical error is around 1 to 3 percentage points.

For Holm this means that he will put everything on one card. If he is unable to win the direct mandate in the Schwerin I constituency, his entry into the state parliament would be questionable, but he could still retain his Bundestag seat. It is also interesting that the AfD parliamentary group does not receive any personal data from the state government about citizens who have registered demonstrations against the party. This could further increase political tensions.

The look into the future

Holm, who had already run as a candidate for mayor of Schwerin in 2023 but lost in the runoff election, is undeterred in showing his ambition. Meanwhile, former mayor Rico Badenschier has announced his resignation at the end of the year, which could further change the political landscape in Schwerin. There is also movement in the AfD, as Petra Federau has been nominated as a direct candidate for constituency 9 (Schwerin II). The elections are just around the corner and the parties are preparing for a thrilling race for the voters' favor.

The coming months will be crucial and all eyes will be on the AfD and Leif-Erik Holm as they plunge into the political battle for Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. As history shows, the political mood can change quickly and the challenges are many. It is to be hoped that everyone involved shows a good hand in their decisions.

For further information on election developments in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, visit the website NDR, Time and Dawum.