Regional governance contests or local political votes - Managerial head, Schwarz, cautions "governmental entities" about.
The recent election outcomes in Saxony and Thuringia, as per the President of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern's Employers' Association, Lars Schwarz, are a reflection of the relationship between political parties. "The constant finger-pointing of the established parties is beneficial to none. Least of all our democracy and our standing abroad," Schwarz stated in Schwerin. As a result, both the ruling and opposition parties in Berlin, as well as many state authorities, share accountability for the rise of extremist and leftist factions.
In Thuringia, the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) emerged as the dominant force for the first time in a state election on Sunday. In Saxony, the right-wing extremist party, labeled as such by both states' intelligence services, secured a close second place, losing to the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) by a narrow margin. The "Bündnis Sahra Wagenknecht" (BSW), a breakaway faction from the Left, achieved considerable double-digit results with no prior foundation. Both federal states are expected to experience challenging coalition negotiations.
Schwarz advocates for genuine competition for superior solutions
Schwarz perceived the election results as a wake-up call. "I urge all pro-government parties: Do not make divisive issues the focal point of political competition. Stop dictating what others should and should not do. It's high time for genuine competition for producing better solutions for our nation's future - tough on substance, but fair in tone," the employers' association president insisted.
The economy has suffered from failed politics and poor communication at the federal and state levels for a while now. "We can no longer afford the status quo," Schwarz emphasized.
Election results assessed differently
Mecklenburg-Vorpommern's Minister President and SPD Chairwoman Manuela Schwesig deemed the election results in Saxony and Thuringia, especially the strong support for the AfD, "disconcerting". The Green Party's state leadership shared similar sentiments.
CDU state chairman Daniel Peters was pleased with his party's performance but anticipates that coalition talks in Erfurt and Dresden will be highly complex. He refrained from commenting on the upcoming discussions: "My CDU colleagues in Saxony and Thuringia do not require my advice," he said.
AfD state chairman Leif-Erik Holm described the results in Saxony and Thuringia as a political seismic event. The desire of the citizens for a different kind of politics cannot be ignored any longer. They did not vote for the AfD out of protest, but out of conviction.
The election results in Saxony and Thuringia have been heavily criticized by some political figures, viewing them as a reflection of divisive politics. Schwarz, however, sees the results as a call for genuine competition and better solutions.
