In the Thuringian local elections, AfD sees losses in run-off votes for administrative district positions.
Just two weeks ago, only one of the 13 district council positions was finalized - it took place in the Schmalkalden-Meiningen region, where the SPD managed to maintain their hold. In a total of twelve other districts, a runoff election was necessary since no candidate initially captured the needed majority, and in nine of these districts, AfD candidates participated.
One striking occurrence happened in the Altenburger Land region. AfD's candidate Heiko Philipp, who secured the highest number of votes initially, lost the runoff election against the CDU's Uwe Melzer. The same story unfolded in eight other districts, with AfD candidates suffering massive losses.
The Hildburghausen district's vote was a surprise, as the Free Voters' Sven Gregor won with a significant lead over well-known right-wing extremist Tommy Frenck, who was notorious for hosting large neo-Nazi concerts in the state and featured in Constitutional Protection Reports.
Last year, the AfD, categorized by the Constitutional Protection Agency as a securely right-wing extremist party under its leader Björn Höcke, claimed its sole district council post in the Thuringian region of Sonneberg.
On Sunday, local elections took place in Thuringen's capital, Erfurt, as well as in Jena and Gera. Erfurt's long-serving SPD mayor Andreas Bausewein lost the runoff election to his CDU rival Andreas Horn, leaving him no choice but to step down.
In Jena, incumbent FDP mayor Thomas Nitzsche managed to keep his seat, beating the Green candidate Kathleen Lützkendorf. In Gera, CDU's Kurt Dannenberg emerged the winner against the non-partisan incumbent Julian Vonarb. In Suhl, the CDU incumbent André Knapp secured victory in the first round, and in Weimar, the combined CDU-backed incumbent Peter Kleine won the election.
Recent polls demonstrated the CDU narrowly leading the district council and city council elections in Thuringen two weeks ago. The AfD had made considerable progress, especially in rural areas, and became more influential in the district councils.
The Thuringian state parliament will elect a new legislature on September 1st. In recent surveys for the state parliament election, the AfD held a commanding lead.
