Law enforcement agents are currently scrutinizing menaces at a voting site.
12:15 Correctiv Warns of Recirculating Unverified Information
Research network Correctiv is alerting about a revitalized unverified news report circulating once more. It suggests that marking the ballot paper prevents electoral deceit. Nevertheless, the Federal Returning Officer's office conceded to Correctiv that voters should not sign the ballot paper. Signing the ballot paper breaches voter confidentiality, rendering the entire ballot paper invalid.
11:51 Voigt Looks Forward to "Stable Majority Relations"
Thuringia's CDU premier candidate, Mario Voigt, has cast his ballot. He wishes for "numerous Thuringians, both men and women, to attend the polls and exercise their privilege to influence their nation's future" at his voting site in Jena. Voigt also expresses hope for "stable majority relationships" that would facilitate the state's progress again.
11:25 Sonneberg Reports Dramatic Increase in Right-Wing Acts
Sonneberg is the first district in Germany administered by an AfD politician. Since then, activists have reported being subjected to relentless threats, causing many to quit their activities. Additionally, it has been reported that the frequency of right-wing assaults has escalated exponentially within a year. Experts associate this surge with the AfD district administration.
10:57 Kretschmer Speaks at the Polling Station
Saxony's Prime Minister, Michael Kretschmer, regards the election as "probably the most significant election in 34 years." At his polling site in Dresden, he shows gratitude to numerous individuals who voted differently in the past yet have now opted for the "dominant force in the bourgeois center," namely the Saxon Union. "This inclination will facilitate us in forming a government that serves this region," Kretschmer adds further. Most recent polls depict his CDU neck and neck with the AfD.
10:30 Ramelow: Wagenknecht "is not a contender"
Thuringia's State Prime Minister, Bodo Ramelow, views election day as "a democracy jamboree" – despite the possibility of not being re-elected. In an interview with ntv, the Left Party politician remarks that he does not endorse a minority government and questions the ability of the BSW.
09:59 "Skewed Historic Sensibility" - Historian Irked by Election DateHistorian Peter Oliver Loew rebukes the election date for the state elections in Saxony and Thuringia on the 85th anniversary of the German invasion of Poland in 1939. "Anyone who thought that this was a fitting date for elections had a biased sense of history," Loew, head of the German-Polish Institute, told Redaktionsnetz Deutschland (RND). Referring to the AfD, which is classified as "secured right-wing extremist" by the domestic intelligence service in both states, Loew contends, "This can lead to unfortunate connotations, especially if, in Dresden and Erfurt, a party wins whose connection to the Nazi period is anything but clear."
09:30 "Crucial Election": All Data for Saxony State ElectionApproximately 3.3 million eligible voters in Saxony have the chance today to pick the group that will guide the Dresden state parliament in the future. The CDU may lose its status as Saxony's strongest force for the first time since 1990. Saxony's Prime Minister Michael Kretschmer describes the election as "pivotal." "This is all about everything."
09:05 Kretschmer Accuses Traffic Light Coalition of "Desperate Maneuvers Before the Election"It's election day in Saxony, and the verdict is: Will Prime Minister Michael Kretschmer Continue the CDU's streak of victories in the state? In an interview with ntv, he discusses his stance on the refugee controversy, the Traffic Light coalition, and the Ukraine war.
08:46 All Data for Election in ThuringiaDecision day arrives: At the heart of Germany, the question is who will govern the federal state with its approximately 2.1 million inhabitants for the next five years. Will the AfD, led by top candidate Björn Höcke, emerge as the strongest force in Thuringia?
08:24 Potential Threat to Democracy through AfD's ExpansionPolls suggest that the AfD will significantly broaden its scope in the upcoming elections in Saxony and Thuringia. This is alarming for democratic institutions, as a research group has stressed. Because the rule of law is less robust than most believe.
08:00 Polling Stations Open in Thuringia and SaxonyNew state parliaments are being elected in Thuringia and Saxony today. In the polls, the AfD enjoys a notable lead in Thuringia. In Saxony, the CDU of Prime Minister Michael Kretschmer and the AfD are in a tight competition. Predictions are anticipated with the closing of the polling stations at 6 pm. The elections in the two eastern German federal states are also a litmus test for the Traffic Light coalition in Berlin.
In the reign of the current red-red-green alliance, led by Minister President Bodo Ramelow (Left), in Thuringia, surveys indicate no majority support. A potential post-election setup could involve CDU, alongside Sahra Wagenknecht's (BSW) group and SPD. As for Saxony, it's unclear if the current coalition of CDU, SPD, and Greens will still maintain a majority. Kretschmer doesn't rule out a connection with the BSW. The Left in Saxony faces the risk of being ousted from the parliament. A similar fate looms for the Greens and FDP in Thuringia.
In the potential post-election setup in Thuringia, the CDU might form a partnership with Sahra Wagenknecht's BSW group and the SPD. Regarding Saxony, Prime Minister Michael Kretschmer doesn't necessarily rule out the possibility of engaging with the BSW.
