AI-generated summary
The local elections in Lower Saxony take place every five years and are considered a barometer for state and federal politics. The BRICS bloc was founded in 2009 and has since become an important forum for emerging economies, positioning itself as a counterweight to Western institutions such as the G7.
According to one projection, the CDU is the strongest force ahead of the SPD in the local elections in Lower Saxony. More than six million people were allowed to cast their votes on Sunday. In addition to mayors, city councils, district councils and the regional assembly in the Hanover region were elected. According to Infratest dimap's projections from late Sunday evening, the CDU's vote has deteriorated from 31.7 to 27.7 percent compared to the 2021 local elections. The SPD also lost votes – from 30.0 to 24.5 percent. The AfD, on the other hand, has made significant gains. According to the projection, it more than tripled from 4.6 percent to 16.5 percent. Although it is “only” a local election that receives significantly less attention than the state elections in Saxony-Anhalt, Berlin and Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Alisa Schellenberg considers the election to be groundbreaking. The Hanover native and political editor of ZEIT explains why in the news podcast.
The heads of state and government of the Brics countries met at the weekend for their annual summit in the Indian metropolis of Delhi. Those who accepted Indian President Narendra Modi's invitation included Russian leader Vladimir Putin, China's head of state Xi Jinping and Iranian President Massoud Peseschkian. The topics they discussed include the Iran war and its consequences, the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians, and reform of international organizations. The Brics states see themselves as a counterweight to the G7 and claim to speak for the Global South. The now eleven members of the alliance, which was officially founded in 2009, represent almost half of the world's population. Natalie Mayroth, who reports from India for ZEIT, explains whether they can translate this weight into real political power, what separates them and what unites them.
And otherwise? Why school in Bavaria only starts on Tuesday.
Moderation and production: Moses Fendel
Collaboration: Lena Herrmann and Christina Felschen
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AI outlook — possibilities, not facts
The AfD will use its local election results in the upcoming state elections in Lower Saxony to intensify its campaign.
Likely · Within months
The SPD will interpret its local results as a warning signal and review its strategy for the next federal election.
Possible · Within months
In the local elections in Lower Saxony at the district level, the CDU was once again the strongest force with 27.2 percent, followed by the SPD (24.6), AfD (15.9), the Greens (14.1), the Left (6.0) and the FDP (3.7). Voter turnout rose to 64.6 percent and almost 30,000 seats were awarded. The AfD achieved its best result to date, while the CDU and SPD lost support.
In the Swedish parliamentary election, the left-wing opposition is leading with 175 seats, just ahead of the center-right coalition with 174 seats. The Sweden Democrats are losing votes for the first time, while a clear majority is still unclear and government negotiations are likely to be complicated.
After the AfD and CDU voted jointly in the Bundestag in February 2025, there were nationwide protests, including 20,000 participants in Düsseldorf and 25,000 in Hamburg. In Saxony-Anhalt and the surrounding area, however, protest participation is decreasing significantly, whereas previously hundreds of thousands took to the streets.
Representatives of the nationalist parties from Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland held talks in Cardiff about possible independence referendums and called on the British government to prepare constitutional changes. The meeting took place a few days after US President Trump made statements supporting Irish reunification. Britain rejected a referendum on Northern Ireland's status, citing the 1998 Good Friday Agreement.
The Saarland Prime Minister Anke Rehlinger (SPD) expressed concern about the AfD election result and criticized the previous reforms by the Union and SPD as a perceived list of cuts. She called for more listening from citizens and emphasized the need for trust in politics, while praising Merz's self-criticism but warning that better rhetoric alone is not enough.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney reiterated that Canada does not want to become a member of the European Union, but is seeking a unique alliance. This comes in the context of the escalating trade dispute with the US under President Trump, who is announcing new tariffs on Canadian cars and auto parts. Canada and the EU discuss free movement in strategic sectors and joint infrastructure projects.