- Anticipates robust participation in Eastern vote castings, according to Koch
The leader of the CDU faction in Schleswig-Holstein, Tobias Koch, is hopeful for a high voter turnout in the upcoming eastern elections. "In such a tricky scenario, one can only wish for a similar impact as in France, where folks suddenly realize: 'Whoa, something's happening here'," he mentioned to the German Press Agency. This led to a high voter turnout in France's parliamentary elections. According to Koch, many individuals were motivated due to the looming tough political election results. "I'm hoping for a similar impact here, so the polls don't validate the current alarming situation," he added.
Koch stated that the Union's objective should be to fortify its position as much as possible in the three federal states of Brandenburg, Saxony, and Thuringia, in order to establish democratic alliances. However, he admits that he doesn't see how this will be achievable in Thuringia. Although the predicament in Brandenburg and Saxony is comparable, the survey results for the September elections appear more promising there.
An additional aggressive force
With the alliance led by Sahra Wagenknecht (BSW), there's now another aggressive force alongside the AfD, Koch pointed out. In Thuringia, he doesn't reject the possibility that the AfD and BSW could form a coalition, as the signs and conditions for a coalition that Wagenknecht is promoting are only being met by the AfD. Their demands focus on federal and European issues, such as relations with Russia, anti-Americanism, and whether to back Ukraine.
"Both the AfD and the BSW are essentially Putin's fifth column in Germany, playing his game - they complement each other ideologically," Koch explained. However, this doesn't mean that dubious coalitions should now be accepted; instead, the CDU must strive to be as far ahead as possible on its own.
SSW issues a warning about consequences for minorities
Lars Harms, the faction leader of the South Schleswig Voter Association (SSW), believes that the upcoming eastern elections are of paramount importance for minority policy in Germany. "If nationalist, fascist, or hate-filled forces win the elections, minorities always face challenges," he informed the German Press Agency. This applies to Sorbs, Frisians, Danes, and also Sinti and Roma, who live throughout Germany.
These individuals must be safeguarded, Harms said. "That's why I think we should all step up, not just locally but also nationally, and support the democratic parties." At the same time, democratic parties must not be fragmented - even after the election. "Democrats must work together against extreme forces, not just the AfD, but also the Sahra Wagenknecht alliance," he emphasized. "They are not all deeply rooted in the free, democratic basic order."
Elections in the East
On September 1, Thuringia and Saxony will select new state parliaments, followed by Brandenburg three weeks later. These three states combined have approximately half the population of North Rhine-Westphalia. In all three, the AfD is leading in polls: around 30% in Saxony, around 28% in Thuringia, and around 25% in Brandenburg. The BSW is also polling at 15 to 20% in these three states.
In the context of the upcoming elections in the Eastern states of Germany, Koch expressed concern about the potential impact of the 'AfD' and the alliance led by Sahra Wagenknecht (BSW). He described both as "another aggressive force" and "Putin's fifth column in Germany," stressing that the CDU must strive to be ahead on its own. Additionally, Lars Harms of the South Schleswig Voter Association (SSW) highlighted the importance of the elections for minority policy in Germany, warning that nationalist, fascist, or hate-filled forces could pose challenges to minority groups.
