In a historic turn of events, a far-right party, the Alternative für Deutschland (AfD), emerged as the top force in a German state parliament for the first time since World War II. The AfD secured 32.8% of the vote in Thuringia and 30.6% in Saxony, signaling voter dissatisfaction with mainstream political parties. While the AfD’s success was considered a victory by co-leader Alice Weidel, democratic parties have vowed to keep them out of power.
Simultaneously, a new populist force on the left, the Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance (BSW), gained momentum with calls for higher taxes, tougher immigration policies, and an end to military support for Ukraine. The BSW performed well in both states, drawing 11.8% in Saxony and 15.8% in Thuringia. The rise of the BSW was described as a ‘gamechanger’ by political scientists.
The results in Saxony and Thuringia dealt a blow to Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s coalition government, with the ruling parties scoring low percentages. The Christian Democratic Union party (CDU) led in Saxony with approximately 32% of the vote, while the AfD came second. In Thuringia, the CDU secured second place behind the AfD, hinting at possible ruling alliances with smaller parties.
Overall, the elections highlighted eastern voter disillusionment with mainstream politics, exacerbated by economic decline and depopulation issues. The fractured results underscore the challenges of coalition-building in the states, with possible contentious alliances on the horizon. The election outcomes have sparked concern among established parties and emphasized the changing political landscape in Germany.
Source
Photo credit www.theguardian.com