Manuela Schwesig brands herself as the “woman against blue” ahead of state vote
SPD leader Manuela Schwesig has launched a new campaign slogan, positioning herself as the “woman against blue” to unite voters against the AfD before the September election.
Facing a state election on 20 September, SPD Minister-President Manuela Schwesig introduced a new campaign banner reading “Die Frau gegen Blau” and called on citizens to prevent the AfD from taking control. She posted the message on X, emphasizing that only a vote for the SPD could keep the party in power. The tactic echoes Brandenburg’s 2024 election, when Dietmar Woidke framed the contest as a showdown with the AfD and tied his political future to a SPD victory.
After the AfD’s decisive win in Sachsen-Anhalt, the party’s poll numbers in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern have placed it ahead of the SPD, intensifying the focus on a head-to-head race. Schwesig warned that an AfD win would lead to a “hanging party” scenario for the state, seeking to rally anti-AfD sentiment among the electorate.
How this story developed
- Aug 23 Merz warns AfD win in Saxony-Anhalt could scare off foreign investors
- Sep 8 Günter Krings, a member of the German Bundestag, described the recent Saxony-Anhalt vote as far worse than expected, with the AfD securing 43.8% of the ballots. He argued the CDU should not entertain discussions about replacing Chancellor Friedrich Merz so soon after the far-right's victory. Krings urged the party to focus on rebuilding its credibility and blamed EU decisions for part of voter anger. The CDU’s share fell to 17.2%, roughly half of its previous support.
- Sep 8 CDU leaders proposed a working group to study a possible ban of the AfD.
- Sep 9 Former US president Donald Trump praised the Alternative for Germany (AfD) after its impressive result in Saxony-Anhalt, blaming the country's immigration policies.
- Sep 9 Trump posted a congratulatory message to the AfD on Truth Social after the Saxony‑Anhalt results.
- Sep 9 Merz and AfD leader Alice Weidel clashed in a Bundestag budget debate following the Saxony‑Anhalt result.
- Sep 10 Claudia Obert resigned from the CDU and Tino Schomann publicly demanded Merz’s resignation.
- Sep 11 AfD top candidate Ulrich Siegmund said weapons from a potential Elbit Systems plant could support upcoming deportation efforts, sparking criticism.
- Sep 11 Only the BSW agreed to talks as all other parties declined, and Chancellor Merz rebuked Donald Trump’s congratulatory post.
- Sep 11 Indikator poll shows the centre-left opposition narrowly ahead of the governing coalition by 3.2 points.
- Sep 12 Kristersson told supporters that a right‑wing victory would bring the Sweden Democrats into his government.
- Sep 12 BSW chairman Fabio de Masi publicly denounced Siegmund's remarks.
- Sep 12 Markus Söder publicly rejected calls to replace Chancellor Merz.
- Sep 13 Sven Schulze replaced Guido Heuer as CDU minister after a close internal vote.
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