Upcoming Local Government Polls - The CDU serves as a beacon for democratic principles.
As per Daniel Günther, the Minster President of Schleswig-Holstein, the only beacon of hope for democratic victories in Saxony and Thuringia's elections lies with the CDU. Günther stated this after the preliminary election results were announced, expressing that the CDU is undoubtedly the strongest democratic force in both regions.
He went on to mention the significant surge in support for the AfD and the BSW, which places Michael Kretschmer and Mario Voigt in a challenging position when it comes to forming stable governments in these complex situations. The SPD and the Greens have performed poorly in both Saxony and Thuringia - the FDP no longer holds any significance.
Günther attributed this erosion of trust in politics largely to the disappointing performance of the traffic light coalition under Chancellor Scholz.
Initial Projections
In Thuringia, based on forecasts, the AfD sees a boost, rising to 31.2% to 33.1% (2019: 23.4%), while the CDU holds steady at 24.3% to 24.5% (21.7%). Surprisingly, the BSW secures 15.0% to 15.7%, leaving the Left, led by Minister President Bodo Ramelow, trailing far behind with 11.7% to 12.4% (31.0%). The parties comprising the Berlin coalition government sustain significant losses: the SPD scores 6.6% to 6.8% (below their worst Thuringia result in 2019 at 8.2%), the Greens fail to qualify for parliament with 3.8% to 4.0% (below their 5.2% in 2019), and the FDP doesn't report any results.
In Saxony, the CDU maintains its position with 31.6% to 31.7% (2019: 32.1%). The AfD is hot on its heels with 30.4% to 31.4% (27.5%). Surprisingly, the BSW gains 11.4% to 12.0%. The SPD follows with 7.8% to 8.2% (7.7%). The Left manages 4.0% to 4.3% - less than half the votes they earned five years ago (10.4%). The Greens need to work hard with 5.3% to 5.5% (below their 8.6% in 2019), and the FDP fails to secure a spot in parliament again, as happened in the last two state elections. However, all parties that don't cross the 5% threshold can still secure a spot in the Saxon state parliament if they win two direct seats.
Despite Günther's optimism for the CDU in Saxony and Thuringia's Election to the Landtag, the AfD and BSW have seen significant growth, potentially making it difficult for Michael Kretschmer and Mario Voigt to form stable governments. Contrarily, the CDU has managed to maintain its strong position in Saxony's Election to the Landtag, while facing stiff competition from the resurgent AfD.
