German port a battleground for EU's fragile political center

If Joachim Schuster is worried about his job, he's not letting on.

A jolly German in his mid-fifties with spiky greying hair and a broad smile, Schuster was elected to the European Parliament five years ago for the center-left Social Democrats. Now he's speaking to students at a vocational college in the northern city of Bremerhaven in an effort to save his seat, defying the downward trend that's beset traditional parties in Europe in recent years.

Support for the Social Democrats has ebbed dramatically across Germany in recent years, but nowhere is its fate more closely watched than in the city-state of Bremen, of which Bremerhaven is a part. The Social Democrats have dominated the proud port's political scene since the end of World War II, winning 19 straight elections and governing it for 73 years.

In this Thursday, May 16, 2019 photo, containers are stored in the free harbor in Bremerhaven, Germany. The city became a battleground for EU's fragile political center, support for Germany's Social Democrats has ebbed dramatically in recent years, but nowhere is their fate more closely watched than in the tiny city-state of Bremen. (AP PhotoMartin Meissner)

That run could end on May 26, when voters in Germany cast ballots for the European Parliament and those in Bremen also hold a state election.

A poor result in both elections could hasten the end of the Social Democrats' fractious coalition with Chancellor Angela Merkel's center-right Union bloc in Germany's national legislature and further reduce the center-left's overall influence on Europe's political landscape.

A new political grouping of nationalist and populist parties is trying to capitalize on voter discontent, vowing to upend the continent's traditional political power structure.

In this Tuesday, May 14, 2019 photo, a poster of SPD promotes the governing mayor of Bremen Carsten Sieling for the regional elections beside road works in the center of Bremen, Germany. The city became a battleground for EU's fragile political center, support for Germany's Social Democrats has ebbed dramatically in recent years, but nowhere is their fate more closely watched than in the tiny city-state of Bremen. (AP PhotoMartin Meissner)

"Establishment politics in Germany, but also in the EU, often haven't managed to really solve the issues the population believes are pressing," Schuster told The Associated Press.

The loss of tens of thousands of jobs in Bremen's shipyards — mirroring similar industrial declines in other parts of Europe — has also sapped the Social Democrats' traditional base, said Schuster.

Voters ruefully compared the region's current economic situation to its heyday in the 1970s.

In this Thursday, May 16, 2019 photo an empty run-down apartment house is cheap for sale or rent in Bremerhaven, Germany. The city became a battleground for EU's fragile political center, support for Germany's Social Democrats has ebbed dramatically in recent years, but nowhere is their fate more closely watched than in the tiny city-state of Bremen. The posters reads 'For rent' and 'For Sale'. (AP PhotoMartin Meissner)

"Lousy, really bad and getting worse all the time," retiree Eta Grotheer said, making her way down Bremerhaven's main shopping street. "The only thing we have left is the port, otherwise there's nothing."

While Grotheer had little good to say about Merkel and her center-right Christian Democratic Union, it's the 'reds' in Bremen who disappoint her the most.

"The Social Democrats used to be a good workers' party," she said. "Now there's nothing."

In this Tuesday, May 14, 2019 photo, the governing mayor of Bremen Carsten Sieling of the Social Democratic Party, SPD, talks during a meeting with union workers in Bremen, Germany. The city became a battleground for EU's fragile political center, support for Germany's Social Democrats has ebbed dramatically in recent years, but nowhere is their fate more closely watched than in the tiny city-state of Bremen. (AP PhotoMartin Meissner)

Grotheer predicted that right-wing parties would benefit from voters' frustration.

If past elections are any indication, many voters in Germany could also stay away from the polls, harming large establishment parties like the Social Democrats.

"We had a terrible voter turnout at the last state elections," said Andreas Klee, a political scientist at the University of Bremen. "That's an incredibly bad sign for the mood in the country as far as democracy and citizens' trust in politics is concerned."

In this Thursday, May 16, 2019 photo citizen Eta Grotheer talks to the Associated Press about the forthcoming elections in Bremerhaven, Germany. The city became a battleground for EU's fragile political center, support for Germany's Social Democrats has ebbed dramatically in recent years, but nowhere is their fate more closely watched than in the tiny city-state of Bremen. (AP PhotoMartin Meissner)

According to Klee, the erosion of traditional party affiliations — which once saw entire families or streets vote the same way — means voters today are more inclined to shop around for a party that speaks directly to their concerns.

Voters worried about immigration and crime are drawn toward the nationalist Alternative for Germany party or Bremen's right-wing Citizens in Rage. Those concerned about climate change and air pollution head to the Greens, who have seen a remarkable rise in poll support in recent months.

The proportional representation in European electoral systems also gives smaller parties a realistic chance of entering parliament, unlike in the United States, where only two parties dominate.

In this Tuesday, May 14, 2019 photo, a man with a sign reading 'I am hungry' begs in front of a poster showing SPD candidate Joachim Schuster for the European Elections in the center of Bremen, Germany. The city became a battleground for EU's fragile political center, support for Germany's Social Democrats has ebbed dramatically in recent years, but nowhere is their fate more closely watched than in the tiny city-state of Bremen. (AP PhotoMartin Meissner)

Last year's election in Italy offers a glimpse of what can happen if Europe's main centrist parties collapse. Italian voters angry about unemployment, corruption and immigration propelled the right-wing League party and the anti-establishment Five Star movement into a ruling populist coalition in the EU's fourth largest economy.

In France, the two dominant parties of the past decades likewise crumbled in 2017's presidential election amid a surge of support for far-right candidate Marine Le Pen. Ultimately, it took a relative newcomer, current President Emmanuel Macron, to unite mainstream voters behind a centrist movement. Polls for this week's European Parliament election put Macron's party neck-and-neck with Le Pen's far-right National Rally.

Projections released by the European Parliament this month show the center-right European People's Party bloc, which includes Merkel's Union, losing 37 of its 217 seats in the 751-seat assembly. The center-left S&D group, which includes Germany's Social Democrats, is forecast to drop from 186 seats to 149.

In this Thursday, May 16, 2019 photo, top candidate for the European Elections Joachim Schuster of the Social Democratic Party, SPD, talks to The Associated Press in Bremerhaven, Germany. The city became a battleground for EU's fragile political center, support for Germany's Social Democrats has ebbed dramatically in recent years, but nowhere is their fate more closely watched than in the tiny city-state of Bremen. (AP PhotoMartin Meissner)

Schuster believes a more radical approach might help the Social Democrats win back voters.

"Everywhere that social justice is moved into greater focus and linked to perspectives for the whole country, we are relatively successful," he said, citing Portugal and Spain, where the center-left remains the dominant political force.

The prospect of losing its bastion in Bremen is causing jitters among senior Social Democrats in the capital. The party's top brass is traveling to the city on Friday for a final rally ahead of the European and state elections.

The yacht harbor in Bremerhaven, Germany, is pictured on Thursday, May 16, 2019. The city became a battleground for EU's fragile political center, support for Germany's Social Democrats has ebbed dramatically in recent years, but nowhere is their fate more closely watched than in the tiny city-state of Bremen. (AP PhotoMartin Meissner)

Speaking after a town hall meeting with workers' representatives, Bremen mayor and governor Carsten Sieling tried to downplay the possibility that the Social Democrats might face a major election upset this week which could send shockwaves across Europe. He pointed to the city's recent drop in unemployment — still high by German standards — and improved public finances.

Winning Bremen and getting a decent result in the European election might give the party "the stability we need," he said.

Samuel Petrequin in Paris and Barry Hatton in Lisbon contributed to this report.

In this Thursday, May 16, 2019 photo a worker walks beside ship's screws at a dockyard at the harbor in Bremerhaven, Germany. The city became a battleground for EU's fragile political center, support for Germany's Social Democrats has ebbed dramatically in recent years, but nowhere is their fate more closely watched than in the tiny city-state of Bremen. (AP PhotoMartin Meissner)

For more news from The Associated Press on the European Parliament elections, go to https://www.apnews.com/EuropeanParliament

In this Tuesday, May 14, 2019 photo, the historic town hall shines in the evening sun in Bremen, Germany. The city became a battleground for EU's fragile political center, support for Germany's Social Democrats has ebbed dramatically in recent years, but nowhere is their fate more closely watched than in the tiny city-state of Bremen. (AP PhotoMartin Meissner)

In this Tuesday, May 14, 2019 photo a bronze statue depicting the Bremen Town Musicians located in Bremen, Germany. The city became a battleground for EU's fragile political center, support for Germany's Social Democrats has ebbed dramatically in recent years, but nowhere is their fate more closely watched than in the tiny city-state of Bremen. (AP PhotoMartin Meissner)

Thursday, May 16, 2019 photo, cars for import and export park in the free harbour in Bremerhaven, Germany. The city became a battleground for EU's fragile political center, support for Germany's Social Democrats has ebbed dramatically in recent years, but nowhere is their fate more closely watched than in the tiny city-state of Bremen. (AP PhotoMartin Meissner)

WARSAW, Poland (AP) — Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk expressed satisfaction on Monday after a series of candidates supported by his party won weekend races for mayor.

Candidates from his pro-European Union centrist Civic Coalition, or running with the party's backing, won in a series of cities in the second round of local elections held on Sunday, among them Krakow, Poznan, Wroclaw and Rzeszow.

“It is very difficult to clearly say who won and who lost,” Tusk said Monday. “But if we compare these results, especially in the most attractive places, on these attractive battlefields ... then I actually have reasons for satisfaction.”

“Law and Justice has simply disappeared in many places,” Tusk added at a news conference, referring to the main opposition party.

The results put Civic Coalition in a favorable position as the country looks next to elections to the European Parliament on June 9.

Mayors were chosen in a total of 748 cities and towns where no single candidate won at least 50% of the vote during the first round on April 7.

Candidates for Tusk’s party also recaptured cities where they had not held power for many years, including Zielona Gora, Legnica and Torun.

The local and regional elections were viewed as a test for Tusk's pro-European Union government four months after it took power at the national level. Sunday's second round strengthened the Tusk government's leverage in the cities, which should facilitate cooperation on development projects and allotment of EU funds.

Tusk's allies also won in some places in the first round two weeks ago, including in Warsaw, where incumbent Mayor Rafal Trzaskowski was an easy victor.

In the first round, the right-wing Law and Justice, prevailed on the level of regional assemblies in the country's 16 provinces, where it took 34.3% of the votes, while Tusk's Civic Coalition got 30.6%. Law and Justice governed on the national level from 2015-23.

Tusk’s socially liberal Civic Coalition traditionally has strong support in cities, while Law and Justice has a more solid base in conservative rural areas, particularly in eastern Poland.

Civic Coalition is the largest group in a three-party coalition that governs the EU nation of 38 million people. The coalition is pro-European Union but otherwise spans a wide ideological spectrum with left-wing politicians in the Left party as well as conservatives in the Third Way.

Polish voters take part in a local runoff election in Lomianki, near Warsaw, Poland on Sunday, April 21, 2024. Voters are choosing mayors who did not win outright in the first round of the election two weeks earlier. (AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski)

Campaign posters promote candidates as Poles vote in local and regional elections in Lomianki, near Warsaw, Poland on Sunday, April 21, 2024. Voters are choosing mayors who did not win outright in the first round of the election two weeks earlier. (AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski)

Polish voters take part in a local runoff election in Lomianki, near Warsaw, Poland on Sunday, April 21, 2024. Voters are choosing mayors who did not win outright in the first round of the election two weeks earlier. (AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski)

Polish voters take part in a local runoff election in Lomianki, near Warsaw, Poland on Sunday, April 21, 2024. Voters are choosing mayors who did not win outright in the first round of the election two weeks earlier. (AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski)

FILE - Poland's Prime Minister Donald Tusk reacts during his and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy meeting with students in Kyiv, Ukraine, Monday, Jan. 22, 2024. Poland's Prime Minister Donald Tusk is celebrating a victory on Monday April 22, 2024 after a series of candidates supported by his party won weekend races for mayor. (AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky, File)

FILE - Poland's Prime Minister Donald Tusk listens to the media in Berlin, Germany, Friday, March 15, 2024. Tusk is celebrating a victory on Monday April 22, 2024 after a series of candidates supported by his party won weekend races for mayor. (AP Photo/Ebrahim Noroozi, File)