German State Election: CDU & Greens Neck and Neck

Demand for doner kebabs is continuing to grow in Germanydespite the rising cost of the dish.

That’s according to a new YouGov poll.

The opinion research institute said that although the average price for a flatbread filled with spiced meat and salad was €6.70 ($7.80) in 2025 — 47% more than in 2021 when the price was €4.85 — the number of orders over the same period increased by 15%.

Kebabs are one of the most popular fast foods in Germany. Around one in three people in the country eat kebabs at least once a month (35%), YouGov said.

“The kebab is consolidating its position as a crisis-resistant classic,” said YouGov market researcher Sebastian Walter.

The survey also found that while the number of people buying kebabs declined slightly between 2021 and 2025, the customers who continued to buy the fast food ordered it more often.

Voters in the southern state of Bavaria are also heading to the polls on Sunday to vote in local polls.

Some 10 million people are eligible to elect their local councils, district administrators and mayors.

A total of 39,300 seats are up for grabs across the state.

One of the most closely watched contests will likely be for the mayor of Munichwith incumbent Dieter Reiter of the center-left Social Democrats (SPD) seeking a third term.

The 67-year-old has attracted heavy criticism recently over a racist remark he made during a council meeting and for payments for a position on FC Bayern Munich’s supervisory board that had not been approved by the city council.

The local elections are also being seen as a popularity test for Bavarian state premier Markus Söder and his Christian Social Union (CSU).

A statewide election result is not expected until later in the week, but mayoral results in cities are expected later on Sunday.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz is hoping for a win in Baden-Württemberg to boost his push for reforms in the entire country.

Although his conservative CDU has had a slight lead in the polls, the environmentalist Green Party is close behind and the race is still anyone’s to win.

Should the CDU finish on top, this would represent a return to tradition for this economically powerful state and its approximately 11 million residents. From the early 1950s, Baden-Württemberg was governed by the CDU. That is, until 2011, when Winfried Kretschmann of the Greens ended that political legacy.

Read more here about why this year’s election matters.

Thousands of people are expected to join a series of demonstrations in Berlin to mark International Women’s Day on Sunday.

The main march, organized by the German Trade Union Confederation (DGB) and other groups, is planned to begin in the Kreuzberg district at around 11:30 a.m. (1030 GMT) and lead to Berlin’s City Hall. Around 10,000 people were registered to take part.

Rallies and discussions on topics such as women’s rights and equality are also planned in the cities of Hamburg, Munich, Leipzig, Hanover and Kiel, among others.

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Polls have opened in the southwestern German state of Baden-Württembergwhere Chancellor Friedrich Merz‘s conservative Christian Democrats (CDU) are hoping to fend off the environmentalist Green Party.

Some 7.7 million people are eligible to vote.

Opinion polls suggest the race will be tight. The CDU’s candidate Manuel Hagel, above right, had gained a significant lead, but his advantage shrunk after a video surfaced that showed him making controversial comments about schoolgirls in 2018.

Baden-Württemberg is a CDU stronghold, but it’s been led by the Greens since 2011 under moderate outgoing Premier Winfried Kretschmann.

The Greens are seen as unlikely to return to power following a poor performance in last year’s national elections. But lead Green Party candidate Cem Özdemir has gained on Hagel in recent weeks. A survey on Thursday put the CDU and Greens level on 28%.

Sunday’s election is the first of five important regional votes across Germany this year.

Eyes will also be on the far-right Alternative for Germany, which is expected to double its 9% share of the vote from the last Baden-Württemberg polls in 2021.

Germany’s third-largest state, Baden-Württemberg is an economic powerhouse and home to carmakers Mercedes-Benz and Porsche.

Good morning from the DW newsroom in Bonn.

You join us as voting gets underway in the southwestern state of Baden-Württemberg.

The regional election there is expected to be a test of Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s popularity after 10 months in office.

His party’s candidate Manuel Hagen is facing stiff competition from Cem Özdemir of the Green Party, the former federal agriculture minister.

Polls also suggest a strong showing for the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party.

Meanwhile, demonstrations are planned in a number of German cities to mark International Women’s Day.

We’ll bring you the latest on these stories and more from across Germany on Sunday, March 8.