- The Alliance for Germany (AfD) is currently in the lead - Wolf defends assertions concerning wagon-servants' practices
As the state election approaches, a poll reveals minimal shifts in party influence. The Alternative for Germany (AfD) remains a potential frontrunner, with Björn Höcke leading the party and securing 30% in the latest ZDF Politbarometer. The Christian Democratic Union (CDU) trails behind with 23%, while the new party, Bündnis Sahra Wagenknecht, is losing steam and remains in third place with 17%. This gap widens compared to other polls conducted by other institutes.
Close to the five percent threshold for SPD
The Left, headed by Minister President Bodo Ramelow, boasts 14% support, while the SPD inched closer to the five percent threshold, now at 6%. The Green Party falls short of qualifying for the state parliament with only 4%. The Free Democratic Party (FDP), led by Thomas Kemmerich, is listed under "others" and would also fail to gain entrance into parliament.
Poll outcomes are not absolute
Polling results are always subject to uncertainties, including decreasing party loyalty and increasing short-term voting decisions, making it difficult for polling institutes to accurately weigh their data.
Little chance for Red-Red-Green majority
If the September 1 election results mirror the poll, the coalition of SPD, Greens, and FDP will suffer, and Red-Red-Green in Thuringia will have no chance of a parliamentary majority after ten years in power.
Implication of complex government formation
The poll suggests a complex government formation. The CDU's Mario Voigt might secure the role of Minister President if the CDU outperforms the Bündnis Sahra Wagenknecht (BSW). A politically viable coalition could only form with a collaboration between CDU, BSW, and SPD, but this alliance is widely seen as contentious.
SPD's necessity for a majority government
Georg Maier, the SPD's Thuringia top candidate, asserts the necessity of a majority government, citing the importance of progressing beyond the era of a minority government. The SPD is eager to champion and advocate for social issues in Thuringia.
Voigt's emphasis on local issues
Mario Voigt advocates for prioritizing local political concerns, insisting that world politics will not be shaped in the Thuringian state parliament. Instead, he emphasizes critical issues like teacher shortages and the burdensome bureaucracy hampering the economy. Thuringians' welfare and requirements must steer political decisions, he believes.
Voigt opposes external interference
Thuringia's CDU top candidate Voigt is adamant about forestalling external interference in state politics. "We Thuringians carry our own way," he stated, emphasizing the importance of autonomy in the context of a debate concerning Sahra Wagenknecht's influence on potential coalition talks in Thuringia or Saxony.
Wolf defends Wagenknecht's role
Thuringia's BSW Chairwoman Katja Wolf denies that party founder Sahra Wagenknecht exerts excessive influence. "She does not control everything, and she recognizes that this is about Thuringia, and we are a powerful state branch," Wolf expressed in the show. Wagenknecht's anticipated involvement in potential coalition talks in Saxony or Thuringia should not be read as dictating policy, Wolf insists, rather as utilizing Wagenknecht's potential for close collaboration.
Court ruling on AfD event access
A court decision has stirred debate after it ruleed that the AfD, classified as securely right-wing extremist by the Thuringian state office for the protection of the constitution, must allow excluded journalists access to their election party. The Regional Court of Erfurt granted an urgent interim injunction, arguing that press freedom was at risk. The decision is not yet legally binding, and the party may file an objection, leading to an oral hearing.
In light of the approaching state election, the possibility of a change in party influence remains a topic of discussion. An election victory for the Alternative for Germany (AfD) could potentially lead to significant changes in government.
Given the current poll outcomes, there's a possibility that the SPD might not meet the required 5% threshold to establish a majority government, which has been in power for the past ten years in Thuringia.
%20is%20currently%20in%20the%20lead%20-%20Wolf%20defends%20assertions%20concerning%20wagon-servants'%20practices){kind=link}