State polls - Despite setbacks in local and European elections, the SPD claims victory.
The Brandenburg SPD remains optimistic about their chances in the upcoming state election this fall, despite recent losses in both the European and municipal elections. According to SPD General Secretary David Kolesnyk, the focus of the election is on whether Dietmar Woidke will remain as the Minister President, as most Brandenburgers and Brandenburg residents prefer, based on survey results.
The election is about leadership, and Schulz highlighted the performance of the AfD in the European elections, which outperformed all other parties in the state. The SPD came in fourth place in the European elections with 13.1% of the votes. Kolesnyk mentioned that federal politics must regain the trust of the people. "It's the responsibility of federal politics to explain its policies.” In the municipal elections, the SPD came in third place with 16.6%. A new state parliament will be elected on September 22, and since 2019, the SPD has been governing in Brandenburg in partnership with the Greens and CDU.
The AfD believes their strategy of exclusion by other parties has failed and urges the other parties to tear down the wall. Hans-Christoph Berndt, leader of the AfD's parliamentary group and deputy state leader, appealed to the other parties not to govern against the strongest force in the state, in the districts, and in the cities. "Who really wants to believe that almost 30% of voters and, even more so, a larger percentage of younger voters are right-wing extremists?" The state's branch of the party has been labeled a suspected right-wing extremist organization by the Office for the Protection of the Constitution.
The CDU sees itself as reinforced by its slightly improved performance and accused the SPD and Greens of being partially responsible for the AfD's success in the Bundestag due to their criticism of the traffic light coalition. "I'm already wondering when SPD and Greens will take responsibility for their policy in our state, which is driving people into the arms of populists," said Gordon Hoffmann, the CDU's General Secretary. The theme of the SPD's election campaign, being against the right, is no longer enough. A new policy is needed.
The Greens were disappointed and concerned about the losses. "It's simply worrisome for Brandenburg when a third of the population votes for right-wing extremists," said Alexandra Pichl, the party's state chair. "The wall must stand against right-wing extremists," she demanded.
The Left views the European elections negatively but also sees opportunities. State Chairman Katharina Slanina said the party is still well-rooted in the municipalities, over 7%. "We want to take this momentum into the state election."
The Free Voters are optimistic about the state election after gains in the municipal elections and are offering themselves as potential coalition partners. "I think it's clear that if you want to form a state government here that's structured differently, there's no way around the BVB/Free Voters," said the party's state leader Péter Vida.
