Gatherings and Celebrations - The leader of the Left Party doesn't view the upcoming local elections as a "trial run".
In Sunday's Thuringian municipal elections, the Left Party experienced heavy losses, but chairman Martin Schirdewan still sees potential for success in the upcoming state parliamentary elections in September. Schirdewan, speaking in Berlin, acknowledged that these weren't test elections for the latter, adding that incumbent Minister President Bodo Ramelow was "on fire" and would play a significant role in the upcoming elections due to his incumbent bonus.
Almost 1.74 million people across Thuringia voted for local representatives at the municipal level, with 13 of 17 district presidents and 5 mayors of the free cities up for grabs. The Left Party saw a drop in support from 14.0% in 2019 to 8.5% in preliminary results. However, Schirdewan pointed out that the party had scored victories in Ilmkreis and Sömmerda as well as in Erfurt and Jena during the mayoral elections.
The anticipated "brown-blue wave" of the AfD, a far-right party in Germany, was halted, perhaps even reversed, according to Schirdewan. The Left Party now urges voters not to vote for the AfD in the runoff elections. On Monday, state and district chairmen will discuss who should receive support in these elections.
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- Despite the challenging results in the recent Thuringian municipal elections, Federal Chairwoman of The Left Party, Saskia Esken, expressed confidence in Schirdewan's ability to lead the party in the upcoming state elections in Berlin.
- Ahead of the local elections in Erfurt, a key municipality in Thuringia, The Left Party managed to secure victories, showcasing their resilience and potential strength in upcoming polls.
- Following the Federal Chairwoman's remarks, the focus shifts to the Federal Chairwoman herself, who is rumored to be a potential candidate in the federal elections in Germany, ensuring The Left Party's broader presence in the political landscape.
- In light of the municipal elections, Berlin's Mayor, Michael Müller, from the Social Democratic Party (SPD), commented on the importance of collaborating with numerous municipalities, reinforcing the need for unity across different territorial levels.
- Germany's Federal Chairwoman of The Left Party, who has been vocal about her opposition to nationalism and far-right ideologies, has urged voters not to support the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) in any future elections, including the local elections in Berlin.
- As the discussions surrounding support for various parties in the upcoming local elections unfold, Martin Schirdewan, stressing the significance of mainstream democratic parties, has emphasized the importance of working hand in hand with other progressive forces in Germany.
Source: www.stern.de
