Berlin Muslims Back Die Linke in State Election

Germany’s left-wing Die Linke party won strong support among Muslim voters in Sunday’s Berlin state election, with 51% backing the party compared with 25.7% across the electorate as a whole, according to a post-election survey by Forschungsgruppe Wahlen reported by Die Welt.

Die Linke also performed above average among voters with no religious affiliation, winning 28%. Its support was lower among Christians, at 17% among Catholics and 16% among Protestants.

Christian voters in Berlin were more likely to back the CDU. The party won 30% among Catholics and 27% among Protestants, compared with 18.8% overall. The SPD also performed slightly better among Christians than across the electorate as a whole.

Similar differences emerged in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. The AfD won the state election with 38.2% overall but received 31% among Christian voters. The SPD, which took 35.5% across the electorate, was backed by 40% of Protestants and 33% of Catholics.

The CDU also performed considerably better among Christians, taking 14% among Catholics and 10% among Protestants. However, with just 4.9% overall, the party failed to clear the threshold required to re-enter the state parliament.

The survey also found significant differences by age. Christians aged 60 and over were more likely to support the CDU and SPD, while those aged 34 and under leaned more strongly towards Die Linke. In Berlin, one-third of younger Christian voters backed the party.

Forschungsgruppe Wahlen surveyed around 17,000 voters in each state immediately after they cast their ballots. Only some respondents were additionally asked about their religious affiliation.

(mja)