Voting process - In the regional elections in Thuringia, the AfD party experienced a defeat in the count.
The municipal elections in eight German states are ongoing, and while a clear trend hasn't emerged yet, the AfD party has made notable gains in Saxony-Anhalt, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, and Brandenburg. However, they failed to win in Thuringia's second round of voting. The counting process for municipal parliaments is more complex due to the possibility of distributing multiple votes, which may take several days.
In the second round of voting for county council positions in Thuringia, AfD candidates had no success. None of the nine districts where AfD candidates advanced to the second round saw any victories. In Hildburghausen's South Thuringian district, with 120 of 127 voting districts counted, Tommy Frenck, the AfD candidate, held 31.0% of the votes, while Sven Gregor of the Free Voter party had 69.0%. Frenck gained notoriety nationwide for organizing a series of neo-Nazi concerts.
AfD Gaining Momentum
A close race emerged between the CDU and AfD in Saxony-Anhalt's Kreistag and Stadtrat elections. After calculating around half of the 2,597 voting districts, the AfD had 29% of the votes across the country, while the CDU had 27.6%. The AfD made significant gains compared to the previous local elections in 2019, while the Left, SPD, FDP, and Greens saw significant losses.
In Brandenburg's municipal elections, the AfD is on the verge of a historic victory. As of counting three-quarters of the votes, the AfD had around 28% of the votes, which would be a 12 percentage point increase from five years ago. The CDU slightly improved their standing, reaching around 19%.
Similar trends are visible in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, with AfD having 27% of the votes after counting 1,100 of the approximately 2,000 municipal voting districts. This would mean a significant increase in vote share compared to the previous local elections. The CDU also lost some ground and had around 24% of the votes at the midpoint of the vote count.
Expectations of Losses for Greens in Baden-Württemberg
Erfurt's long-running SPD mayor Andreas Bausewein, who served for 18 years, lost the second round of voting for the mayor of Thuringia's state capital to CDU challenger Andreas Horn, who garnered 64.2% of the votes. Bausewein, who trailed Horn in the first round at the end of May, received 35.8% of the votes per the state election officer.
In the municipal elections in Baden-Württemberg, the Greens are expected to experience losses, but not as severe as in the European elections. The CDU could gain the top spot in Stuttgart and Mannheim, while in Karlsruhe, the Greens are predicted to retain their position despite some potential losses.
Approximately 22.5 million citizens in Baden-Württemberg, Brandenburg, Hamburg, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Rhineland-Palatinate, Saarland, Saxony, and Saxony-Anhalt participated in the elections for municipal parliaments, county councils, or city halls. In Hamburg, voters chose district assemblies. In Thuringia, 1.3 million more citizens could take part in the runoff elections.
Municipal Elections as a Gauge for State Elections
These local elections are viewed as a barometer for parties, particularly in Brandenburg, Saxony, and Thuringia, which are set for state elections in the fall. However, in smaller cities and councils, representatives from citizen initiatives and other organizations might take center stage, potentially relegating established parties to lesser roles.
The main focus is whether the AfD could translate its current polling numbers into tangible election wins. Exact results may not be available until several days later. Elections for mayors and county councils typically progress more quickly.
The most recent elections took place five years ago. Citizens had the option to vote at age 16 in these eight states, while others had to wait until they were 18. In Baden-Württemberg, 16-year-olds are allowed to be elected. Citizens with EU citizenship and residence in the respective cities and municipalities are eligible to vote in local elections. Voter turnout in local elections is generally lower than in federal elections.
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- The AfD party also saw significant gains in municipal elections in Saxony-Anhalt, similar to their performance in the regional elections.
- In Berlin, local elections were taking place concurrently with the state-wide voting process, offering another opportunity for the AfD to test its popularity.
- Meanwhile, in Karlsruhe, a traditional stronghold for the Christ Democratic Union (CDU), the SPD and the Greens are expected to maintain their strong positions during the municipal elections.
- The run-off election for the county council positions in Baden-Württemberg's District of Hildburghausen saw Tommy Frenck, the AfD candidate, trailing behind Sven Gregor of the Free Voter party.
- The European elections in Germany last year saw the CDU and the SPD lose ground to the AfD and the Greens, indicating a broader shift in political sentiment across the country.
- The results from the municipal elections in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania were still being counted, with the CDU and the SPD holding similar vote shares to five years ago.
- Despite the AfD's gains in many regions, the SPD managed to secure a victory in the municipal elections in Stuttgart, which was a significant blow for the far-right party.
- In the city-state of Hamburg, local elections were underway, with the SPD and the Greens expected to maintain their dominant positions as they have in past elections.
- Andreas Bausewein, a long-time SPD mayor in Erfurt, failed to secure a second term in the municipal elections, marking a significant shift in political power in the city.
- In the region of Thuringia, district elections were taking place alongside municipal elections, with the CDU challenging the SPD's long-held dominance in some areas.
- The results from the run-off election for the county council positions in Saxony-Anhalt saw the CDU narrowly defeating the AfD, which was seen as a crucial test for the far-right party's appeal in upcoming elections.
