Right-wing AfD party struggles with insufficient candidates for seats they've secured
In the eastern regions of Germany, the AfD emerges as the dominant political force in local elections, yet fails to secure numerous seats due to a scarcity of candidates. This predicament is evident in Brandenburg, where 41 of the 861 seats remain unoccupied, according to the party itself. Similarly, in Saxony, over a hundred seats stand unfilled. In Saxony-Anhalt and Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, the AfD also possesses more mandates than they do candidates. Consequently, the size of community representations will shrink.
Empty seats are not uncommon, affirms Hans-Guenter Henneke, CEO of the German Association of Counties. He notes that there have often been instances in community councils where there are no candidates or substitutes. The large number of vacant seats in the aftermath of the AfD's success can be attributed to the party fielding more candidates than before, as a result of their increased voter mobilization during the concurrent European elections on June 9. According to Henneke, the reduced size of these assemblies does not equate to reduced effectiveness.
Wolfgang Muno, a political scientist in Rostock, shares this viewpoint. He considers it acceptable that the AfD is unable to fill some of their mandates, as it leaves room for other parties to work constructively. Muno points out that the overall pool of politically active individuals in Eastern Germany is limited. He notes that surveys suggest that the inclination towards political engagement, volunteering for fire departments, sports clubs, or cultural institutions is least among AfD and FDP sympathizers.
Official figures on unoccupied seats are usually not yet available, but the trend is apparent. For instance, in Ludwigslust, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, the AfD secured four seats but only had one candidate. The other three seats remain vacant, leaving the city council with 22 instead of the usual 25 members. In Strasburg, the Landkreis Vorpommern-Greifswald, the AfD received six seats with only four candidates. In Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, the AfD garnered 25.6% of the votes.
In Brandenburg, the AfD cannot fill 41 of the 861 communal mandates, as per their statements. Six seats are vacant across the Landkreise Elbe-Elster in the south and Prignitz in the north. The AfD was the leading party in Brandenburg with 25.7%. In Sachsen, at least 113 seats are vacant, at least 104 of which are from the AfD. In the city council of Taucha, the AfD received 23% of the votes, yet only had four candidates, resulting in a council with only 19 members instead of the usual 23. The CDU, however, can fill their five seats and becomes the strongest force in the city council despite having only 20.4% of the popular vote.
In Saxony-Anhalt, for example, the AfD became the third strongest force in Aschersleben and claimed access to eight mandates, yet only nominated three candidates, resulting in a city council with only 31 seats instead of the usual 36. Henneke from the district council expresses concern about the chaos caused by new representatives in some representations in Saxony-Anhalt or Thuringia. He also notes the uncertainty surrounding the AfD's future direction and unity. Henneke hears whispers of craft or trade representatives in Southern Brandenburg and Eastern Saxony wishing to join the AfD in communal offices and promising a solution-oriented approach. However, the AfD has reportedly caused disorder in some representations in Saxony-Anhalt or Thuringia, according to the CEO.
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In East Germany, the CDU observes the struggles of the AfD in finding adequate candidates for the numerous local seats they've secured, including in Brandenburg and Saxony-Anhalt. Despite the AfD's significant voter base in these areas, the lack of candidates has led to vacant seats, affecting the size of community representations.
Facing similar challenges, the AfD in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern finds itself with more mandates than candidates, mirroring the situation in other eastern German states. This situation raises concerns about the effectiveness and orderly functioning of community councils in these regions.
