At 10:57, Kretschmer addresses the voting booth
Saxony's Leader Michael Kretschmer Labels State Election as "Potentially Most Significant in 34 Years." Upon casting his ballot in Dresden, Kretschmer expresses gratitude to individuals who have shifted their votes in recent years, eventually choosing the dominant force in the moderate center, namely the Saxon Union. "This consensus will empower us to establish a government that caters to this land," Kretschmer adds. As per polls, his CDU is engaged in a tight race with the AfD.
10:30 am: Ramelow Discusses Wagenknecht's Absence from Ballot For the Left-wing Thuringian Minister President Bodo Ramelow, Election Day is signified as a "celebration of democracy," despite the looming possibility of his non-reelection. During an interview with ntv, Ramelow clarifies his disapproval of a minority government and questions the competence of the BSW.
09:59 am: Historian Loew Criticizes Election Date Historian Peter Oliver Loew criticizes the election date for the state elections in Saxony and Thuringia, falling on the 85th anniversary of the German invasion of Poland in 1939. "In retrospect, whoever selected this date showed poor historical intuition," Loew states, expressing concern about the potential misinterpretations that could arise if a party with murky ties to the Nazi era, classified as "securely right-wing extremist" by the domestic intelligence service in both states, should win elections in Dresden and Erfurt.
09:30 am: "Critical Election": All Saxony Voting Information Over 3.3 million qualified voters in Saxony will decide who will govern their state parliament in Dresden in the future. With a chance of the CDU relinquishing its position as the leading force in the state since 1990, Saxony's Minister President Michael Kretschmer refers to the election as "critical." "This is all about it."
09:05 am: Kretschmer Accuses Traffic Light of Premature Decisions With election day in Saxony, the question arises: Will Minister President Michael Kretschmer prolong the CDU's winning streak in the state? During an interview with ntv, Kretschmer expresses his stance on refugee matters, the traffic light government, and the Ukraine war.
08:46 am: Election Data for Thuringia The day of decision has arrived: Which party will steer the federal state with approximately 2.1 million inhabitants for the next five years in the heart of Germany? Will the AfD, with top candidate Björn Höcke, emerge as the most influential party in Thuringia?
08:24 am: Risks of AfD's Growth to Democracy Polls indicate that the AfD is likely to considerably augment its influence in the upcoming elections in Saxony and Thuringia. Researchers have highlighted that this development poses a risk to democratic institutions. Due to a weaker rule of law than perceived by many.
08:00 am: Polling Stations Open in Thuringia and Saxony Elections for new state parliaments are taking place today in Thuringia and Saxony. Based on polls, the AfD holds a clear lead in Thuringia. In Saxony, the CDU of incumbent head of government Michael Kretschmer and the AfD are neck-and-neck. Initial estimates are expected when polling stations close at 6 pm. The elections in both eastern German states serve as a barometer for the traffic light coalition in Berlin.
For the existing Thuringian coalition led by Minister President Bodo Ramelow (Left), no majority exists in polls. A post-election option involves a government featuring the CDU, the Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance (BSW), and the SPD. The CDU is uncertain if its alliance with the BSW will persist in Saxony. Kretschmer does not rule out allying with the BSW. The possibility of the Left Party being expelled from the Saxony parliament and the Greens and FDP in Thuringia facing a similar fate hangs in the balance.
In light of the elections in Saxony and Thuringia, a German historian, Peter Oliver Loew, criticizes the election date, as it falls on the 85th anniversary of Germany's invasion of Poland in 1939.
Meanwhile, the Netherlands expresses its concern about the potential rise of far-right parties in the elections, given their historical associations with extremist ideologies, particularly in the case of the AfD.
