CDU close to achieving success; AfD's first win not likely imminent.

The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) aimed to seize control in the Thuringian district council polls but, as preliminary results indicate, failed in their initial attempt. Nonetheless, there will be second chances in various areas.

, and Mark Rodriguez

2024 May 27 . 1:15 PM

2 min read

Voters come to the polling station at the Rutheneum grammar school. The local elections in... — Voters come to the polling station at the Rutheneum grammar school. The local elections in Thuringia include elections for mayors, district councillors, city councillors and municipal councillors.

Voting Processes - CDU close to achieving success; AfD's first win not likely imminent.

The CDU is close to victory in multiple cities across the Thuringian district during mayoral elections, however, they may need to face run-off elections with AfD candidates in some regions. In the eastern town of Altenburg, incumbent André Neumann won while in Suhl, located in the south of Thuringia, as well as Weimar, a renowned city, CDU candidates André Knapp and Peter Kleine (not affiliated with a party) were almost guaranteed victory.

Initial results suggest that run-offs between CDU and AfD candidates have emerged in six regions. In districts like Eichsfeld, Wartburgkreis, Sömmerda, Saale-Holzland-Kreis, and Greiz, CDU candidates were leading after more than half of the ballots had been counted. In Altenburger Land, in the eastern part of Thuringia, AfD candidate Heiko Philipp edged out incumbent Uwe Melzer of the CDU.

In Thuringia, approximately 1.74 million people headed to the polls for large-scale local elections, where 13 out of 17 district councillors were being elected, as well as the five mayors of independent cities. Additionally, district councils, municipal and city councils, and honorary and full-time mayors were being selected throughout the state.

Once more than half of the ballots had been counted, the district mayors of Weimarer Land, Christiane Schmidt-Rose from the CDU, and Schmalkalden-Meiningen, Peggy Greiser (not affiliated with a party), had the opportunity to defend their positions for the first time. The run-offs for the top municipal offices will occur on June 9, alongside European elections.

Ulrike Grosse-Röthig, the chairwoman of the Left Party, expressed her relief following the initial count's results that AfD's far-right candidate Björn Höcke had no chance of securing a district council office or a town hall in an independent town on the first try. "Thuringia remains a democratic state," she proclaimed. The Left Party is one of the ruling parties in Thuringia, but only occasionally represented at the level of district councillors and mayors.

Grosse-Röthig mentioned that previous elections had demonstrated that civil society could prevent AfD candidates from participating in the second round.

The day before the election, hundreds of people protested for an inclusive Thuringia and against right-wing extremism in various locations across the state. According to police reports, roughly 2,000 people participated in a rally in Erfurt alone on Saturday. The voter turnout at 4.00 pm stood at 46.2 percent.

Despite their losses, the AfD is currently leading the state election polls with around 20 percent and the Left Party led by Prime Minister Bodo Ramelow (Left Party) with 16 percent. Thuringia has been governed by a red-red-green coalition since 2014 that does not hold a majority in the state parliament since 2020.