Germany’s CDU and SPD face pressure from parties on both political extremes

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  Germany’s governing CDU and SPD face pressure from right-wing and left-wing parties after state election gains by parties at both ends of the political spectrum.

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  The AfD is challenging both mainstream parties from the right, while the Left is adding pressure in Berlin.

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  Forming governments without parties at the political extremes is described as very difficult or impossible in Saxony-Anhalt and Berlin.

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  SRF correspondent Simone Fatzer says the CDU has no clear approach to its increasingly strong radical fringes and is in an existential crisis.

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  Fatzer says neither the CDU nor the SPD has found answers to the rise of the political extremes or to people’s concerns.

Who

Germany’s governing CDU and SPD, facing pressure from the AfD and the Left.

What

The mainstream parties are under strain after right-wing and left-wing parties made gains in state elections.

When

After the latest state elections; the article was published on 9 October 2026.

Where

Germany, especially Saxony-Anhalt and Berlin.

Why

The AfD is gaining strength on the right, and the Left has gained strength in Berlin; the article also cites internal disputes and unanswered public concerns.

This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.