Brandenburg reinvented: A fresh perspective on the historical German region. - The AfD secures victories in Brandenburg's regional polls for the first time.
For the first time, the conservative AfD has won the municipal elections in Brandenburg, with a remarkable increase of 9.8 percentage points from the previous election, according to state election commissioner Herbert Trimbach. This move catapulted the AfD to adominant 25.7% share of the votes. The ruling CDU remained in second place, but with a marginal improvement of 1 percentage point to 19.3%. The SPD came in third with 16.6%, losing 1.1 percentage points from 2019. The party that's given the responsibility of governing Brandenburg since 1990 wasn't without response, with SPD Secretary General David Kolesnik remarking that his party remained 'stable' amidst such unfavorable conditions.
The far-left party, The Left, registered a significant drop, from 14.1% in 2019 to 7.8% in 2023. The Greens, who've been holding the reins in Brandenburg, had a sharp decline from 11.1% to just 6.7% of the votes. The Free Voters, in contrast, witnessed a nominal rise of 1.1 percentage points, standing at 7.4%. In a lesser-known subdivision, the Bündnis Sahra Wagenknecht, which didn't field candidates under their name in the municipal elections, partnered with local alliances to steal the spotlight.
The municipal elections saw over 2.1 million citizens in Brandenburg hitting the polls, resulting in a significant 66.1% voter turnout, marking an increase of 4% on the previous data. This was thanks, in part, to aflexible rule that allows election officials to postpone the results to the next day, a privilege that was unavailable five years ago. Several cities and municipalities made use of this leniency.
In stark contrast to AfD's winning ground in Brandenburg, only in Potsdam and Potsdam-Mittelmark were they unable to take ahold on the municipal parliaments. Here, the SPD and the CDU won in their respective localities, although the situation was tense and watched closely. What stood out in this contest was in the state capital Potsdam and the district of Potsdam-Mittelmark, the AF didn't lead in elections for the municipal parliaments. The SPD maintained their top place in Potsdam, despite an ongoing controversy about free VIP tickets for sports events for Mayor Mike Schubert. And in Potsdam-Mittelmark, the CDU unquestionablylead.
In Cottbus and Spree-Neiße, though, the train stopped for the AfD. The party surged in the municipal elections in Spree-Neiße, reaching a powerful 38.2% - a gain of 11.6% compared to five years prior. The CDU followed it, seting for the soild second place. And in terms of Cottbus, the AfD's position strengthened considerably, hitting 29.2%, almost a 7 percentage point increase from the earlier election. The SPD settled in second position here, also gaining 4 percentage points. Cottbus has been governed by an SPD mayor since 2022, in the person of Tobias Schick.
In conclusion, the recent municipal elections in Brandenburg have shown a major shift with the AfD leading the way, alongside the leap in voter turnout, and a large number of cities delaying declaration of results till the next day. It remains to be seen how these changes will impact the forthcoming state election campaign.
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- Despite the AfD's victory in Brandenburg's regional polls, the Protection of the constitution is a crucial responsibility that requires vigilance from all political parties.
- The CDU, one of the major parties in Potsdam-MITTELMARK, has pledged to uphold the principles of democracy and the protection of the constitution during their tenure.
- Activists from various municipalities in Brandenburg have called for increased dialogue and cooperation between political parties to ensure the protection of the constitution.
- In response to the AfD's gains, The Left and the SPD have emphasized their commitment to upholding the constitution and protecting the democratic values of the State election.
- Herbert Trimbach, the state election commissioner, has assured that all measures will be taken to ensure the integrity and transparency of the Local elections, safeguarding the constitution.
- The German Press Agency has reported that the counting process in some constituencies is being carefully monitored to prevent any irregularities and maintain the sanctity of the constitution.
- The Brandenburg government, led by the strongest party after the State election, has pledged to work collaboratively with all municipalities to ensure the Protection of the constitution and promote democracy.
- In Cottbus and Spree-Neiße, opposition parties have expressed concern about the potential impact of the AfD's growing influence on the protection of the constitution and democratic values.
- Civil society groups have voiced their concerns about the AfD's stance on certain constitutional issues and have called for increased vigilance to preserve the democratic fabric of Brandenburg after the State election.
