- Baerbock issues a warning about potential disappearance of "majorities upholding democracy"
Two Days Before Thuringian State Election, Baerbock Warns of Democratic Erosion
With the Thuringia state election looming just two days away, Federal Foreign Minister and Green politician Annalena Baerbock issued a warning about the potential erosion of democratic majorities in state parliaments. "If there's no longer a democratic majority in parliaments, it'll be detrimental for all democratic parties," she said, concluding the Thuringian Greens' election campaign in Erfurt. Baerbock lambasted the practice of whipping up people against democratic rivals such as the Greens, labeling it reckless. "For us Germans, it's crucial to preserve the strength of democratic majorities in each state. Every vote counts in the state election."
Greens Sweat Bullets Over Re-entry into State Parliament
The Greens are sweating bullets as they prepare for this Sunday's state parliament election in Thuringia. They've been languishing below the 5% threshold for months, making re-entry into the state parliament a daunting task. The Greens scraped by in 2019, earning just 5.2% of the vote.
Thuringia's lead candidate Madeleine Henfling gave her supporters a pep talk: "We've got this – we'll make the 5%!" In her speech, she slammed the CDU for lacking backbone in standing up to the AfD. The CDU has in the past accepted AfD votes to push through its own legislation against the wishes of the governing coalition. During the campaign, CDU lead candidate Mario Voigt leaned into polarization, highlighting the choice between CDU and AfD. Henfling countered: "We're the opposite of the AfD, not Mario Voigt."
Baerbock Stands Firm on Ukraine Support
Baerbock reiterated the Greens' position of supporting Ukraine with weapons to fend off Russia. "Can we find solace knowing that Ukraine can no longer defend itself and troops keep pushing forward? Not just Kyiv, but then it's Poland, and that's the European Union," she said.
The Green party's goal in the upcoming Thuringian State Election is to overcome the 5% threshold and re-enter the Landtag, as they barely managed to do so in the last election. If they fail to secure a seat in the Landtag, it could contribute to the erosion of democratic majorities in state parliaments, as warned by Federal Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock.
