FDP deputy leader Kubicki asserts that Ampel has forfeited its authority.
20:41 Thuringia: Höcke Falls Short of Direct Parliament SeatThe constituency of Greiz II, where AfD faction head Björn Höcke is running, has been tallied: Höcke fails to amass the majority of votes to secure a direct entry into the Thuringian state parliament. As per ntv reports, the AfD is expected to claim Höcke's seat in the state parliament, with another AfD representative voluntarily stepping down to make way for him.
20:37 Saxony: Left Party's Parliamentary Presence SecuredSpiteful losses for the Left Party in Saxony's election have seemingly not deterred them from retaining a presence in the state parliament. Although they've missed the 5% threshold with second votes and currently stand at 4.3% as projected by ZDF, two Left Party candidates in Leipzig constituencies are leading comfortably over their opponents. With two direct mandates in their pockets, the Left Party can expect to secure at least a few seats in the new state parliament. The potential victors in the Leipzig constituencies could also secure the top spots on their party's state list, challenging the governing coalition of CDU, SPD, and Greens, as Minister President Kretschmer would need BSW for a majority.
20:28 Thuringia: AfD on the RiseZDF's current election projection for Thuringia suggests that the AfD's momentum continues to grow. According to these projections, the AfD has climbed up to 33.4% of the votes. The CDU stands at 23.8%, the SWB at 15.5%, and the Left Party holds 11.9% of the votes. The SPD and Greens bring in 6.0% and 3.4% of the votes respectively, with the FDP falling below 1.2%.
20:17 Saxony: CDU and AfD in Tight RaceIn ZDF's current projection, the CDU in Saxony is only maintaining a slim lead over the AfD - 0.1 percentage points, to be precise. If these projections hold, the Christian Democrats will be at 31.5%, while the AfD, labeled as right-wing extremist by the constitutional protection, will be at 31.4%. In contrast, the AfD has pulled ahead of the CDU in Thuringia's projections. The Greens in Saxony are currently struggling to retain their seats in parliament, with only 5.1% of votes. The Left Party in Saxony is left with meager chances at a 4.3% projection, while the SPD maintains their presence in the state parliament with 7.6%.
19:56 Thuringia: Höcke's Direct Parliament Entry in DangerThe direct entry of AfD faction leader Björn Höcke into the Thuringian state parliament is now threatened. After recording votes in 68 of 74 electoral districts, CDU candidate Christian Tischner has captured 42.3% of the votes, leaving Höcke trailing behind with 40.4%. If Tischner winds up being the majority vote winner in the Greiz II electoral district, Höcke will forfeit the opportunity for a direct mandate. He would then rely on a parliamentary seat through the state list, but if many AfD candidates secure direct victories, no one will gain seating through the state list.
19:50 Höcke on AfD Victory: "The Berlin Wall's Policy has Cranked Out"The AfD has triumphed as the dominant force in Thuringia's election, according to AfD lead candidate Björn Höcke. "The Berlin Wall's policy has crumpled," he declared in his reaction to the evening's events on ntv. He deemed the election result as "historic," discussing the impending government formation.
19:42 Ramelow on Left Party's Fall: "We've Been Labeled and Divided"Thuringia's Minister President Bodo Ramelow attributes the "cannibalization" of his Left Party to two factors. Firstly, he says, a CDU that has consistently likening the AfD to the Left, and promoting their own exclusivity, has effectively siphoned support away from his party. Secondly, the BSW, which had previously announced it would bring 17% votes to the AfD, has instead taken away the Left's support. Despite these setbacks, Ramelow could still celebrate the high voter turnout.
19:26 Nouripour on AfD Victory: "My Thoughts are with Those who Fear"The AfD has seized more than 30% in both Saxony and Thuringia state elections, with the traffic light parties lagging far behind. Green Party leader Omid Nouripour sees the AfD's winning streak as a "turning point" and a call to defend democracy together.
19:08 Wagenknecht Pursues Coalition with CDU and Potentially SPD in ThuringiaLeader of BSW, Sahra Wagenknecht, expresses hope for a coalition with the CDU and possibly SPD in Thuringia. In an interview with ARD, she stated, "We're really hoping to establish a decent government with the CDU at the end - likely also with the SPD." After five years of minority rule, the public seeks a stable majority government. The pressing issues in Thuringia, like the "significant teacher shortage," require immediate attention, Wagenknecht stressed. The public also wants a state government that voices out in national politics, she added, stating that such a government should stand for peace, diplomacy, and oppose the deployment of US missiles in Germany. Wagenknecht ruled out any alliances with the AfD in Thuringia.
19:02 Preliminary Estimate for Thuringia: AfD Boosts Performance Over Initial ProjectionsZDF's preliminary analysis of the Thuringia election results indicates stronger performance for the AfD than initially projected. The far-right party is projected to receive 33.1 percent of the votes in the state, with the CDU at 24.3, Sahra Wagenknecht's alliance gathering 15 percent from scratch. The Left, currently in power with Bodo Ramelow as the popular minister-president, experiences a decrease of almost 8 percentage points, now at 11.7. The SPD earns 6.6, while the Greens receive 4 percent of the votes.
18:56 Goering-Eckardt: AfD Success a "Democratic Shock" for GermanyGreen party leaders are more unsettled by the AfD's success in Thuringia than by their own election losses. Katrin Goering-Eckardt, co-chair of the Green party, views the far-right party's success as a "shock" for Germany. Omid Nouripour, party leader, feels his sadness over his party's failure is "minimal" considering that the AfD has become the dominant force in a state parliament.
18:48 Kretschmer on Saxony: "We Have Every Reason to Celebrate"Incumbent Saxon minister-president, Michael Kretschmer, sees the CDU as the backbone of the government coalition. "We have every reason to celebrate," he declared at his party's election event. "Behind us are five tough years," he added, mentioning that the people of Saxony have trusted the CDU and not engaged in a protest vote. "We know how disappointed people are with what's happening in Berlin."
18:39 Preliminary Estimate for Saxony: CDU's Lead Over AfD DecreasesAccording to ZDF's initial projections, the CDU's lead over the AfD in the Saxony state election has decreased: the CDU now only slightly leads with 31.9 percent, compared to the AfD's 31.3 percent. The BSW is at 11.6 percent, the SPD at 7.8, and the Greens would barely secure a place in the state parliament with 5.2 percent, while the Left falls short with 4.5 percent.
18:33 Weidel Claims Government Participation for AfD in Thuringia and SaxonyAlice Weidel, leader of the AfD's federal party, asserts that her party deserves government representation in Thuringia and Saxony. "In normal circumstances, as practiced in this country, the strongest party, which is the AfD, would initiate exploratory talks," Weidel said on ARD, referring to Thuringia. "The voter wants the AfD to be involved in government. We represent 30 percent of the voters in both federal states, and without us, a stable government would not even be possible."
18:30 Kuhnert Admits SPD's Modest Results in Thuringia and Saxony ElectionsSPD secretary-general Kevin Kuhnert acknowledges his party's mediocre performances in the Thuringia and Saxony elections. "This is not a night to celebrate for the SPD," he admitted on ARD. Despite a challenging past few years, he continued, the "risk of being expelled from the state parliaments" was severe. "Fighting is worth it, we're needed." He emphasized that change is necessary, emphasizing clearer communication and better listener qualities. Regarding Chancellor Olaf Scholz, he stated, "We need to articulate our politics together."
18:23 Höcke Hails Thuringia Result as "Historic Victory"AfD faction leader Björn Höcke celebrates Thuringia's results as "historic." The AfD now holds the role of the dominant people's party in the state, and the "silly firewall nonsense" must end, Höcke said on MDR. Change will only come with the AfD's involvement, he added.
18:21 Chrupalla on Thuringia: "Neck and Neck with the CDU"AfD party leader Tino Chrupalla applauded his party's performance as extraordinary. He said that voters demand a shift in politics in both states. The AfD is now open to negotiations with all parties, Chrupalla declared on ZDF. He added that the AfD is "neck and neck with the CDU" in Saxony and aims to govern for the sake of Saxony.
18:17 CDU Secretary-Gen's Stance: No Coalition with AfDThe CDU's Secretary-General, Carsten Linnemann, has made it clear that there will be no coalition with the AfD in Thuringia or Saxony. He spoke about this on ARD and stated that the CDU will form governments from the heart of parliament. Linnemann expressed confidence in their success and mentioned that the CDU is the last remaining people's party, acting as a "bulwark." He noted that the traffic light parties have been penalized.
18:13 Saxony Projections: CDU Leading, AfD Close BehindThe first projections for the Saxony state election reveal the CDU as the winner, with 31.5% of the vote, just ahead of the AfD at 30%. The BSW is third with 12%, followed by the SPD at 8.5%. The Greens are at 5.5%, barely making it into the state parliament. The Left and the FDP will not be represented in the state parliament.
18:10 Thuringia Projections: AfD Leading, CDU Close BehindAccording to the first projections for the Thuringia state election, the AfD has a clear lead with 30.5%, followed by the CDU with 24.5%. The Left is in third place with 12.5%, and the SPD is represented in the state parliament with 7%. The BSW secures a seat with 16%, while the Greens and the FDP fall short of 5%.
18:01 Thuringia: AfD Leads, SPD Clears Hurdle, BSW in Double Digits in SaxonyThe first projections after the Thuringia state election show the AfD as the strongest force. The SPD clears the 5% threshold while the Greens and FDP fall short. In Saxony, the BSW achieves a double-digit result from scratch. The CDU is narrowly ahead of the AfD.
17:18 Höcke's Uncertainty for State Parliament EntryIn Thuringia, AfD faction leader Björn Höcke might not secure a seat in the upcoming state parliament. Ironically, it may be his successful party colleagues who put him at risk. Many AfD candidates running in constituencies have good chances of winning direct mandates. However, Höcke faces stiff competition from CDU candidate Christian Tischner in his constituency of Greiz II. If Tischner wins and the AfD gains more direct mandates than they are entitled to from the second vote results, nobody can enter the state parliament via the state list, not even from the first position, which Höcke holds.
16:48 AfD's Thuringia Party Event Without Media CoverageThere is a high likelihood that there will be no media coverage of the Thuringian AfD's election party. The party, classified as right-wing extremist by the Verfassungsschutz, attempted to exclude several media outlets from the event, but a court banned this. As a result, the state party excluded the entire press, citing organizational problems due to insufficient space at the event location for all the media representatives who had applied for accreditation.
16:29 Saxony Mail-In Voting Rate HighFor the election that Saxony's CDU Minister-President Michael Kretschmer called a "crucial election" for the state, nearly a quarter of eligible voters have already cast their ballots by mail. The state election supervisor expects 24.6% of the votes to be cast by mail. The voter turnout today was only slightly higher than in 2019 at early afternoon.
15:52 Höcke and Ramelow Cast VotesThuringia's AfD state leader and top candidate cast his vote this morning. Höcke arrived at his polling station in a Lada Niva, a Russian-made off-road vehicle. He voted in Bornhagen, Eichsfeld district. Minister-President Bodo Ramelow voted in Erfurt, accompanied by his wife, Germana Alberti vom Hofe.
15:40 Higher Turnout in Thuringia and SaxonyIn Thuringia, 44.4% of voters had cast their ballots by 14:00, an increase of more than two points compared to the last election five years ago. In Saxony, the turnout was also higher than in 2019, but only slightly, at 35.4% at early afternoon. The polling stations in both states will close at 18:00.
14:40 Top Concerns in Saxony and Thuringia ElectionsApproximately one-third of residents in Saxony and Thuringia plan to vote for the AfD in the upcoming September 1st elections. A comprehensive survey provides insights into the reasons behind this trend, focusing on major concerns and issues. Migration is just one of the numerous problems mentioned.
14:13 Höcke Steps Away from Polling Station QuicklyAt the Thuringia state election, AfD's top candidate Björn Höcke, voted around midday at the Bornhagen polling station. The far-right figure left the location promptly and declined to speak with journalists. Previously, he had consistently lost to the CDU candidate in his home constituency of Eichsfeld, but this time, he had moved to the Greiz constituency. Unfortunately, he also suffered a loss in this new constituency against the CDU.
13:50 Similar Voting Turnout in Thuringia to 2019In Thuringia, the voting turnout appears to be comparable to the previous parliamentary election, according to the state election commission. Approximately 32% of eligible voters had cast their votes by 12 pm. The figures do not include postal voters. In 2019, the voting turnout was 31.2% at this time. There seems to be more interest in the state election this year than in the European and local elections that took place earlier. The voting turnout in June was recorded to be 24.3% at the same time.
13:29 High Voting Turnout Expected in SaxonyIn Saxony, a high voting turnout is anticipated for the state election. By midday, 25.8% of eligible voters had cast their votes, according to the Statistical State Office in Kamenz. In the prior state election in 2019, the figure was 26.2% at the same time. The preliminary figures do not yet include postal voters. It is projected that 24.6% of eligible voters will exercise their right to vote by post, compared to 16.9% in 2019. According to the state election commission, the elections are being conducted smoothly in the morning without any disruptions.
13:11 Election Result Could weaken Berlin CoalitionThe election results in Saxony and Thuringia are still being tallied. If the SPD fails to secure a seat in the state parliament, it would almost be equivalent to an earthquake, according to political scientist Albrecht von Lucke, in an interview with ntv. He analyzes the election and its potential consequences.
12:44 Police Investigating Threat at Polling StationFollowing an incident at a polling station in Gera, the police are investigating a threat. A man wearing an AfD T-shirt entered the polling station to cast his vote in the morning. Once asked by the polling station manager to remove the shirt due to the prohibition on party advertising, the man complied but then threatened to "return" due to his dissatisfaction with his treatment upon leaving the polling station grounds. Police took a statement and issued a warning to the man. Moreover, police in Erfurt are investigating political graffiti ("Höcke is a Nazi") near polling stations as incidents of criminal damage.
12:15 Correctiv Warns against Circulating False InformationThe research network Correctiv has issued a warning about a recurring false claim. It states that signing the ballot paper protects against vote rigging. However, the Federal Returning Officer's office confirmed to Correctiv: "The ballot paper must not be signed. Signing the ballot paper by the voter could jeopardize the secrecy of the vote and render the entire ballot paper invalid."
11:51 Voigt Hopes for "Stable Majority Relations"Thuringia's top CDU candidate Mario Voigt has now voted. He expressed his hope that "many Thuringians will go to the polls and exercise their right to shape the future of our land." He also hoped for "stable majority relations" to ensure the land can progress once more.
11:25 Sonneberg Experiences Increase in Right-Wing Extremist AttacksSonneberg is the first district in Germany led by an AfD politician. However, activists claim they are being subjected to massive threats - many have stopped their work as a result. It is speculated that the number of right-wing extremist attacks has increased fivefold within a year. Experts attribute this increase to the AfD district administrator.
10:57 Kretschmer Expresses Himself at the Ballot BoxSaxony's Minister President Michael Kretschmer deems the state election in his federal state "probably the most important election in 34 years." At his vote in Dresden, he expressed gratitude to many people who "voted differently" in the past but have now switched their support to the "powerful force in the bourgeois center," namely the Saxon Union. "This understanding will enable a government formation that serves this land," Kretschmer continued. In recent polls, his CDU has been in a tight race with the AfD.
10:30 Ramelow: Wagenknecht "is not on the ballot"For Thuringia's Minister President Bodo Ramelow, election day is "a festival of democracy" - even though the possibility of not being re-elected exists. In an interview with ntv, the Left Party politician explained why he doesn't recommend a minority government and why he has doubts about the competence of the BSW.
09:59 "No historical sensitivity" - historian voices frustration over election dateHistorian Peter Oliver Loew voiced displeasure over the election date for the state elections in Saxony and Thuringia, happening on September 1st, which coincides with the 85th anniversary of the German invasion of Poland in 1939. Loew, director of the German Institute for Polish Affairs, told Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland (RND), "Someone without historical sensitivity must have thought this was a good idea." Regarding the AfD, categorized as "securely right-wing extremist" by the domestic intelligence service in both states, Loew said, "This could result in disturbing associations if a party without a clear stance towards the NS era wins in Dresden and Erfurt."
09:30 "Pivotal election": All data on the Saxony state electionApproximately 3.3 million eligible voters in Saxony can choose the party that will steer the political course in the Dresden state parliament going forward today. The CDU has been the strongest force in the state since 1990, but could face losing that position for the first time. Saxony's Minister President Michael Kretschmer referred to the election as "pivotal." "Everything is at stake here."
09:05 Kretschmer accuses traffic light of "pre-election chaos"Election day has arrived in Saxony, with the question on everyone's mind: Will Minister President Michael Kretschmer extend the CDU's winning streak in the state? During an ntv interview, he discussed his stance on refugee issues, the traffic light government, and the Ukraine war.
08:24 Could the AfD pose a threat to democracy?
Surveys suggest the AfD will likely gain significant influence in the forthcoming elections in Saxony and Thuringia. As a research group warned, this could be detrimental to democratic institutions, given that the rule of law may not be as robust as many might believe.
08:00 Polling stations open in Thuringia and Saxony
New state parliaments will be elected today in Thuringia and Saxony. According to polls, the AfD is leading in Thuringia. In Saxony, the CDU of incumbent Minister President Michael Kretschmer and the AfD are in a close race. Initial projections are expected upon the closing of polling stations at 6 pm. These elections in the two eastern German states will also serve as a gauge for the traffic light coalition in Berlin.
For the current red-red-green coalition led by Minister President Bodo Ramelow (Left) in Thuringia, there is no clear majority in the polls. A coalition consisting of the CDU, the Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance (BSW), and the SPD could potentially form after the election. In Saxony, it remains unclear whether the current coalition of CDU, SPD, and Greens still has a majority. Kretschmer does not exclude the possibility of an alliance with the BSW. The Left faces a risk of being ousted from the parliament in Saxony. The same could occur for the Greens and FDP in Thuringia.
In the context of the given text, here are two sentences that contain the word 'FDP':
- The FDP falls below 1.2% in ZDF's current projection for Thuringia's state election.
- If the FDP manages to secure a few seats in the new state parliament, it could potentially form a coalition with other parties.
