BERLIN (AP) — Chancellor Friedrich Merz's party finished first in municipal polls in Germany's most populous state, but the biggest winner in the first electoral test since Merz's government took power was the far-right Alternative for Germany, which nearly tripled its showing compared with five years ago.
Final results Monday showed that Merz's center-right Christian Democratic Union took 33.3% of the vote in Sunday's elections for councils and mayors in North Rhine-Westphalia, a western region that is home to about 18 million people. Its partners in a national government that so far has failed to lift the country's mood, the center-left Social Democrats — for whom the state was long a reliable heartland — took 22.1%.
Both were slightly below their score in the last municipal elections, in 2020. But Alternative for Germany, or AfD, took 14.5% of the vote — a gain of 9.4% points. The anti-immigration AfD is strongest in the formerly communist and less prosperous east, but Sunday's showing underlined its arrival in recent years as a force in western Germany too.
In Germany's national election in February, AfD took 20.8% of the vote to finish second and become the largest opposition party. In North Rhine-Westphalia, it took 16.8% in February.
AfD co-leader Alice Weidel celebrated what she called “a huge success” on Sunday.
AfD's rise has been fueled by discontent over large numbers of migrants but also other issues, including a stagnant economy and the war in Ukraine. Its support has remained high despite Germany’s domestic intelligence agency classifying it as a right-wing extremist organization, a designation that it suspended after AfD launched a legal challenge.
Its success in February followed the collapse of a center-left national government that had become notorious for squabbling. Merz's conservative-led administration, which took office in May, has taken a tougher approach to migration and is trying to revitalize the economy, but has also drawn unfavorable attention for internal disagreements.
Stefan Marschall, a political science professor at Duesseldorf's Heinrich Heine University, said that AfD “is in a position to organize the discontent" with the traditional mainstream parties.
“It succeeded in that, particularly in the regions that feel left behind,” he told Phoenix television. He noted that AfD didn't even field candidates everywhere on Sunday, which meant that its support was “somewhat underrated” by the outcome.
In three of the less prosperous cities in the industrial Ruhr region, AfD mayoral candidates garnered enough support to advance to runoff votes on Sept. 28 against candidates from mainstream parties. AfD contenders will face Social Democrats in Gelsenkirchen and Duisburg, and a Christian Democrat in Hagen.
Merz wrote on social network X that his CDU is “clearly the strongest force” in North Rhine-Westphalia. “We are addressing the problems at national, state and municipal level with determination,” he said. “The solutions are not on the fringe, but in the center — with answers for our economy, migration and security.”
The biggest drop in support on Sunday was for the environmentalist, left-leaning Greens, who fell to 13.5% from 20% five years ago. The Greens are now in opposition nationally after ex-Chancellor Olaf Scholz's unpopular government collapsed, but they're part of a state government in North Rhine-Westphalia that is led by conservative governor Hendrik Wüst, a prominent figure in Merz's party. That government wasn't up for election Sunday.
FILE - Leader of far right AfD Alice Weidel waves a German flag at the AfD party headquarters in Berlin, Germany, Sunday, Feb. 23, 2025, after the German national election. (AP Photo/Michael Probst, File)
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz attends a press conference in Berlin, Germany, Saturday, Sept. 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Ebrahim Noroozi)
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — The Eagles need a new offensive coordinator.
Ask most fans, commentators — and, privately, some players — and the change from Kevin Patullo was inevitable long before Philadelphia actually made the move this week in the wake of a playoff loss.
There's a “help wanted” sign for the new boss of an offense — one loaded with elite talent such as Jalen Hurts, Saquon Barkley, A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith — that fell way short as the Eagles failed in their bid to win consecutive Super Bowl titles.
Coach Nick Sirianni and general manager Howie Roseman were vague on details Thursday about why they waited until the end of the season to make the move — the Eagles ranked 24th in yards per game (311) and 19th in points per game (19.3) — and less clear on what they wanted out of a new coordinator.
“You’re looking to continue to evolve as an offense, and I’m looking to bring in the guy that’s going to best help us do that,” Sirianni said. “I think that there are many different ways to be successful on offense and everybody has different styles, everybody has different players, and there’s many different ways to be successful.”
The Eagles have plenty of credible candidates to choose from — everyone from Josh McCown and Cam Turner to former NFL coaches Brian Daboll, Mike McDaniel and Kliff Kingsbury. The new OC could have complete autonomy to run the offense, though collaboration has been key under Sirianni.
No matter the coordinator, the Eagles expect to be contenders again after playing in two of the last four Super Bowls. Just winning an NFC East title doesn't cut it these days in Philly.
“If it doesn’t end with confetti falling on our heads, I don’t feel like it’s good enough,” Roseman said. “I know that we’re not going to win the Super Bowl every year. I think I know that from a broad perspective, but I believe we can. I go into every offseason thinking we’re going to do whatever it takes to win a Super Bowl.”
Two-time All-Pro offensive tackle Lane Johnson has built a Hall of Fame-level career and won two Super Bowls since the Eagles made him a 2013 first-round pick.
Retirement talk was a hot topic for most of the season.
Johnson turns 36 in May and did not play after Week 11 because of a foot injury. He did not talk to the media this week when the Eagles cleaned out their lockers.
Roseman kept private his conversation with Johnson about retirement. Johnson reworked his contract last May and is signed through 2027.
“You're talking about a Hall of Fame player who’s been a huge, huge part of any of our success that we’ve had, and when you watch him play, he’s still playing at an elite level,” Roseman said.
Brown is likely staying put.
While he isn't shy about airing his grievances, the wide receiver is often worth the distractions because of his production.
Just not this season.
Brown had 78 receptions (down from 106 in 2023) for 1,003 yards (he had 1,496 in 2022) and only five 100-yard games. Of course, some of that dip in production resulted from how he was used in Patullo's offense. The changes ahead are one reason why the Eagles are in no rush to give up on the 28-year star — along with the $43 million dead salary cap hit they'd take if Brown wasn't on the roster.
“It is hard to find great players in the NFL and A.J.’s a great player,” Roseman said. “I think from my perspective, that’s what we’re going out and looking for when we go out here in free agency and in the draft is trying to find great players who love football, and he’s that guy. I think that would be my answer.”
Special teams coach Michael Clay had a virtual interview Thursday for the same job with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Sirianni also hasn't ruled out Patullo staying on the staff in a different role.
“I know Kevin’s going to have other opportunities, and obviously always want what’s best for Kevin and for his family, so we’ll see how that plays out,” Sirianni said.
Patullo could want a fresh start after his house was egged earlier this season and one area indoor golf establishment let fans hit golf balls into a photo of his face after the playoff loss.
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Philadelphia Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni speaks with the media during a news conference at the NFL football team's training facility, Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Chris Szagola)
Philadelphia Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni speaks with the media during a news conference at the NFL football team's training facility, Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Chris Szagola)
Philadelphia Eagles executive vice president and general manager Howie Roseman, left, looks over as head coach Nick Sirianni, right, speaks with the media during a news conference at the NFL football team's training facility, Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Chris Szagola)
Philadelphia Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni, right, and executive vice president and general manager Howie Roseman, left, speaks with the media during a news conference at the NFL football team's training facility, Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Chris Szagola)
Philadelphia Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni speaks with the media during a news conference at the NFL football team's training facility, Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Chris Szagola)
