Far-right party AfD gains strength, CDU aims for power, left-wing parties face setback
In the recent Thuringia state election, the Alternative for Germany (AfD) winds up as the dominant force, just as predicted. The Christian Democratic Union (CDU) garnered the second-highest number of votes, placing them in a potential position to form a coalition with the Social Democrats (SPD) and the Alliance '90/The Greens (BSW). Regrettably, both the Greens and the Free Democratic Party (FDP) failed to secure representation in the upcoming Thuringian state parliament.
In a groundbreaking first, the AfD has emerged as the most popular party in a state election in Germany. With top candidate Björn Höcke at the helm, the AfD captured 30.8% of the votes, according to projections by Infratest Dimap for ARD. The CDU followed closely behind with 24.5%, while the BSW trailed not too far behind with 15.8%.
The incumbent Red-Red-Green coalition suffered a substantial blow. The Left, led by Minister President Bodo Ramelow, experienced a significant decline in support, expected to receive only 12.4% - a staggering 18-point loss. The SPD, meanwhile, is projected to fair somewhat better with 7% (-1.2). However, disastrously for the Greens, they failed to meet the 5% threshold required for representation, earning just 4%. The FDP also failed to secure a seat in the state parliament, recording only 1.2%.
As a consequence, the AfD is expected to claim 30 seats in the future state parliament, while the CDU, BSW, Left, and SPD will claim 24, 15, 12, and 7 seats respectively. Although the AfD may not possess the power to form a government due to ruling out of a coalition with the Höcke party by all other parties, they have the potential to create a blocking minority. This would allow the AfD to halt constitutional amendments or hinder the appointment of judges to the state constitutional court.
In neighboring Saxony, elections took place as well, with the CDU projected to narrowly surpass the AfD.
The leader of Thuringia's CDU, Mario Voigt, interprets the forecast as a mandatory mandate for the CDU to govern. "This is also an opportunity for political change under the CDU's leadership," voiced Voigt in Erfurt. Voigt stated his intention to initiate talks with the SPD first.
Carsten Linnemann, the general secretary of the federal CDU, expressed his satisfaction with being the last genuine popular party in Germany. "We are the bulwark," declared Linnemann on ARD, referring to the rise of the partly right-wing extremist AfD and the BSW alliance. Linnemann admitted his discomfort at the strength of the AfD in Germany.
Alice Weidel, the federal chairwoman of the AfD, lauded the election results in Thuringia and Saxony as an historic victory for her party. In response, she criticized the federal coalition of SPD, Greens, and FDP, stating, "This is a requiem for this coalition." Weidel argued that the SPD, Greens, and FDP should reconsider their ability to continue governing.
BSW top candidate Katja Wolf described the outcome of her party in the state election as "historic." With BSW entering the Erfurt state parliament for the first time, Wolf expressed her gratitude to all those who made it possible. The projections had the BSW in Thuringia at 14.5% to 16% from no prior foundation. This placed the BSW behind the AfD and CDU in third position. "I have goosebumps experiencing this moment," said Wolf.
Sahra Wagenknecht, the founder of the BSW, addressed her supporters in Erfurt, proclaiming their achievement as the BSW founding a party in January and securing over five percent in a nationwide election that same year, followed by entering two state parliaments with double-digit results - something never before accomplished in German history - as something all should take pride in.
In light of the election results, the Alternative for Germany (AfD) has become an unavoidable force in Thuringian politics, potentially blocking any constitutional changes or judicial appointments due to their potential to form a blocking minority. Amidst these developments, Alice Weidel, the federal chairwoman of the AfD, claimed this as a historic victory for her party and criticized the current federal coalition.
