Kremlin comments on AfD success in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania elections

On September 20, 2026, the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party secured first place in the state elections held in the northeastern German region of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. The results, confirmed on Sunday, sparked a response from the Kremlin regarding the political climate in Germany.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov attributed the AfD's electoral success to the German government's decision to abandon cheap Russian natural gas following the 2022 invasion of Ukraine. Peskov argued that Germany's current reliance on more expensive energy imports, primarily from the United States, has severely damaged the country's economic competitiveness. According to the Kremlin, the shift in voter preference toward an "alternative option" reflects public dissatisfaction with the current ruling power and a desire to improve their economic situation.

Furthermore, the Russian leadership noted that these electoral outcomes coincide with the recent introduction of sweeping sanctions imposed by U.S. President Donald Trump, which he signed into law this past Friday. The Kremlin suggests that these combined factors of energy policy and international pressure are directly influencing the German domestic political landscape, signaling a shift in voter sentiment as citizens seek alternatives to the established political order.