The Social Democratic Party (SPD) is now below ten percent, yet Klinghaecker remains loyal to Scholz.
21:02 Kubicki: "Traffic Light coalition's authority is questionable"FDP Vice-Chairman Wolfgang Kubicki has criticized the federal coalition following the poor performances of the traffic light parties in the elections in Saxony and Thuringia. "The election result indicates: The traffic light coalition's authority is questionable," Kubicki posted on "X". If a significant portion of the electorate rejects it in this manner, it must have consequences. People seem to believe that "this coalition is harming the country". The FDP fell short of the 5% threshold in both state elections and is currently polling at around 1%.
20:41 Höcke Falls Short of Direct Mandate in ThuringiaThe district of Greiz II, where AfD faction leader Björn Höcke is running, has been counted: Höcke falls short of the majority of votes to gain a direct seat in the Thuringian state parliament. According to ntv information, the party will still secure Höcke's seat in the state parliament. Another AfD MP will relinquish their seat in favor of Höcke.
20:37 Left Party Likely to Secure Seats in Saxony Despite SetbackIn the Saxony election, the Left party is expected to secure seats in the state parliament despite significant losses. Although it does not clear the 5% hurdle with second votes and is currently at 4.3% according to the current ZDF forecast, two Left direct candidates in Leipzig constituencies are leading with a comfortable margin over the competition. Two direct mandates would be enough to secure the Left party at least a few seats in the new state parliament. The two potential constituency winners could also secure the first places on the state list of their party, resulting in a seat. This would mean that the current coalition of CDU, SPD, and Greens would not have a majority - Minister President Kretschmer would require the BSW for a governing majority.
20:28 AfD Gains in Thuringia ElectionsAccording to the current ZDF forecast for the election result in Thuringia, the AfD can increase its result further. The AfD reportedly reaches 33.4% of the votes. The CDU is at 23.8%. The SWB comes to 15.5%. The Left is currently at 11.9%. The SPD comes to 6.0% and the Greens reach 3.4% of the votes. The FDP does not surpass 1.2%.
20:17 CDU Leads Over AfD by a Thin Margin in Saxony ElectionsAccording to the latest projection on ZDF, the CDU in Saxony now has only a 0.1% lead over the AfD. The Christian Democrats are at 31.5%, while the AfD, classified as right-wing extremist by the domestic intelligence agency, is at 31.4%. In Thuringia, the AfD has allegedly overtaken the CDU in the projections. The Greens are currently at 5.1% in Saxony and are at risk of losing their seats in parliament. The Left has a projected 4.3%, barely making it, and the SPD is secure with 7.6%.
19:56 Höcke's Direct Entry into Thuringia State Parliament at RiskThe direct entry of AfD faction leader Björn Höcke into the Thuringia state parliament is now at risk in the Thuringia election. With 68 of 74 constituencies counted, the CDU candidate Christian Tischner is leading with 42.3% of the votes, ahead of Höcke, who has 40.4%. If Tischner wins the majority of votes in the Greiz II constituency, Höcke will not secure a direct seat. He would then rely on a seat in parliament via the state list, which he leads. However, if many AfD candidates are successful as direct candidates, no one will get in via the state list.
19:50 Höcke on AfD's Success: "The Barrier Politics Have Failed"The AfD is entering the Thuringia state parliament as the strongest force. "The barrier politics have failed," said the AfD's top candidate, Björn Höcke. In an interview with ntv, he called the election result "historic" and discussed the upcoming government formation.
19:42 Ramelow on Left Party's Cannibalization: "CDU and BSW Factually Shaped Country with Us"Thuringia's Minister-President Bodo Ramelow sees two reasons for the "cannibalization" of his Left Party: "Once a CDU that has constantly equated the AfD and the Left, has always pointed the 'exclusion' finger at us, although they have factually shaped the country with us for five years," said the head of government on ntv. He also cited a "BSW that announced it would bring 17% of the votes to the AfD, and in reality, they took the votes from us now." Despite this, Ramelow could still rejoice in the high voter turnout.
19:26 Nouripour on AfD's Success: "My Thoughts are with Those Who are Afraid"The AfD is winning over 30% in both Saxony and Thuringia elections, leaving the coalition parties far behind. Green Party leader Omid Nouripour sees the AfD's election result as a "turning point" and a call to defend democracy together.
19:08 Wagenknecht Keeps Eyes on CDU Coalition in Thuringia, Possibly with SPDLeader of BSW, Sahra Wagenknecht, is aiming for a coalition with the CDU in Thuringia, potentially alongside the SPD. She voiced her hope for a stable, majority government with the CDU and perhaps the SPD in a conversation with ARD. After five years of minority rule, the people craved a government that could tackle issues such as the substantial teacher shortages in Thuringia. However, the people also desired a state government that would voice its concerns in national politics, standing for peace, diplomacy, and opposing the placement of US missiles in Germany. Wagenknecht confirmed that no coalitions with the AfD were under consideration for Thuringia.
19:02 ZDF Predicts Enhanced AfD Performance in ThuringiaZDF's estimation for the Thuringia election result forecasts an even more prosperous outcome for the AfD than initially anticipated. According to their prediction, the far-right party earns 33.1% of the votes in the federal state. The CDU sits at 24.3%, while Sahra Wagenknecht's alliance manages to secure 15% from scratch. Current minister presidency holders, The Left, suffer a loss of nearly 8 percentage points and stand at 11.7%. The SPD finishes at 6.6%, while the Greens receive 4% of the votes.
18:56 Goering-Eckardt Expresses Concern Over AfD Success in GermanyThe Green Party leaders are more troubled by the AfD's success in Thuringia than the party's poor performance in the state. Katrin Goering-Eckardt regards the success of the far-right party as a "stimulus" in Germany. The party leader Omid Nouripour laments the failure of his party as "minor," given the AfD's position as the strongest force in a state parliament.
18:48 Kretschmer Optimistic about CDU in Saxony: "Reason to Celebrate"The incumbent Saxony Minister President Michael Kretschmer views CDU as a strong foundation for the government coalition. "We have every reason to celebrate," he stated at the CDU's election party. "We've had five challenging years," during which the people of Saxony remained loyal to the CDU and did not resort to a vote of protest. Kretschmer sympathized with the people's disappointment with the state of affairs in Berlin.
18:33 Weidel Pursues Government Participation for AfD in Thuringia and SaxonyAfD's federal party chair Alice Weidel is advocating for her party's involvement in the government in Thuringia and Saxony. "Under normal circumstances, adhering to standards in this country, the strongest party, which is the AfD, should explore this possibility," Weidel clarified in an ARD interview, referring to Thuringia. "The voter's desire for the AfD to engage in government is evident. We represent 30% of the voters in both federal states, and a stable government would be impossible without us."
18:30 Kühnert Acknowledges SPD's Modest Results in Thuringia and Saxony ElectionsSPD secretary-general Kevin Kühnert admitted that the party's results in the Thuringia and Saxony elections were not worth celebrating. "This is not a victory night for the SPD," he stated on ARD. Despite years of challenges, the party has been able to avoid being excluded from the state parliaments. "There was a serious risk of being eliminated from the state parliaments," Kühnert acknowledged. "Fighting is necessary, and we're essential." Kühnert emphasized the need for change, including more transparency and active listening to the voters.
18:23 Höcke Contends Thuringia Result as "Historic Victory"AFD parliamentary group leader Björn Höcke classified the Thuringia result as "historic." The AfD has gained the status of a "major people's party" in the federal state, and the "illogical firewall behavior" should cease, Höcke argued on MDR. Change in the state will only be possible with the AfD's presence.
18:21 Chrupalla Praises AfD Performance in Thuringia: "Head-to-head with the CDU"AfD party leader Tino Chrupalla commemorated his party's achievement as remarkable, signifying a significant political shift in both federal states. The AfD is eager to engage in discussions with all parties, Chrupalla confirmed on ZDF. In Saxony, the AfD is "neck and neck" with the CDU, Chrupalla specified, mentioning the AfD's commitment to serving Saxony's best interests.
18:17 Linnemann Rules out CDU Coalitions with AfD in Thuringia and SaxonyCDU Secretary-General Carsten Linnemann rejected the possibility of coalitions with the AfD in Thuringia or Saxony. "We are unequivocal about this," he stated on ARD. The CDU will now form governments from the center of the parliament, expressing confidence in its success. Linnemann characterized the CDU as the last standing "peoples' party" and a "bulwark," adding that the "traffic light" parties had suffered as a consequence.
18:13 Saxony Prediction: CDU Slimly Beats AfD, BSW at 12%, Greens Hanging OnThe initial prediction for the Saxony state vote shows the CDU as the victor with 31.5% of the votes counted. It edges out the AfD by a narrow margin with 30%. The BSW takes the third strongest position with 12%, while the SPD maintains a presence in the state legislature with 8.5%. The Greens are barely clinging to 5.5%, and the Left is out with 4%. The FDP will not make it into the new parliament either.
18:06 Estimate for Thuringia: AfD Ahead of CDU, BSW at 16%The initial estimate for the state election in Thuringia suggests a clear advantage for the AfD with 30.5% of the vote share. Following closely behind is the CDU with 24.5%, and the Left with 12.5%. The SPD would enter the state parliament with 7%, and the BSW would secure a seat in the legislature with 16%. The Greens and the FDP would fail to surpass the 5% threshold.
18:00 AfD Leads in Thuringia, BSW Over 10% in SaxonyThe initial results after the state election in Thuringia show the AfD as the dominant force, as anticipated. The SPD manages to clear the 5% barrier, while the Greens and FDP fall short. In Saxony, the BSW achieves a double-digit score for the first time. The CDU is barely ahead of the AfD, according to the projections. According to the forecast, the Left and the FDP will not be represented in the state parliament, while the Greens will persist.
16:50 Possibility of Höcke Missing State Parliament SeatAfD's regional leader in Thuringia, Björn Höcke, may miss out on a seat in the upcoming state parliament. His successful party colleagues could potentially undermine his chances. Many AfD candidates in the individual constituencies have a chance at winning a direct mandate. However, Höcke faces stiff competition from CDU candidate Christian Tischner in his constituency of Greiz II. If Tischner emerges victorious and the AfD exceeds its entitled direct mandates with second-vote results, nobody can enter via the state list, not even from first place (which Höcke holds). In this scenario, the AfD may try to persuade a successful direct candidate to relinquish their seat in the state parliament, enabling Höcke to secure his mandate.
16:24 Thuringia AfD Plans to Exclude Media from CelebrationIt is expected that there will be no media coverage of the Thuringian AfD's election celebration. The party, designated as right-wing extremist by the domestic intelligence agency, attempted to exclude several media outlets from the event. After a court prohibited this, the state party excluded the entire press corps. A party spokesperson cited organizational issues: There was not enough space at the event venue for all the accredited media representatives.
16:18 Approximately 25% of Voters Cast Ballots by Mail in SaxonyFor the election that Saxony's CDU Minister President Michael Kretschmer referred to as a "decisive election" for the state, about 25% of eligible voters have already cast their ballots by mail. The state election supervisor projects that 24.6% of voters will have voted by mail. Turnout today was only slightly higher than in 2019 at midday.
15:45 Höcke Votes in a Lada, Ramelow with SpouseThuringia's AfD state leader and leading candidate, Björn Höcke, cast his vote in the morning. He arrived at his polling station in Bornhagen, Eichsfeld district, in a Lada Niva, a Russian-made off-road vehicle. Minister President Bodo Ramelow voted in the state capital of Erfurt, accompanied by his wife, Germana Alberti von Hofe. Ramelow has served as head of government in the Free State since 2014, most recently leading a minority coalition.
15:35 Higher Voter Turnout than Previous ElectionBy 2 PM in Thuringia, 44.4% of voters had cast their ballots. This represents an increase of more than two points compared to the election five years ago. This indicates a high turnout, with absentee voters still unaccounted for, according to the state election commissioner. In Saxony, turnout was 35.4% by midday, only slightly higher than in 2019, but the election commissioner anticipates more absentee votes than in 2019. Polling stations in both states close at 6 PM.
15:05 Kretschmer Hopes Coalition Parties Make State Parliament
14:35 Main Concerns for Saxony and Thuringia ElectionsA significant survey indicates that approximately one-third of voters in Saxony and Thuringia plan to vote for the AfD in the September 1st elections. The survey highlights the primary issues and problems, with migration being just one of them.
14:00 Höcke Skips Press After VotingAfD's top candidate in Thuringia, Björn Höcke, cast his vote at noon but did not linger at the Bornhagen polling station or speak to the press. Having consistently lost to the CDU candidate in his home constituency of Eichsfeld, Höcke switched to the Greiz constituency, but he also faces a likely defeat against the CDU there.
13:50 Voter Participation in Thuringia matches 2019 midday figureIn Thuringia, voter participation is matching the participation rate from the previous parliamentary election at midday. As reported by the state election commissioner, approximately 32% of eligible voters have cast their ballots so far, with absentee votes yet to be accounted for. In comparison, turnout was at 31.2% by this time in 2019. Moreover, there's been an increase in voter interest for this state election when compared to the recent European and local elections, which saw turnout at 24.3% at the same time.
13:30 Anticipated High Voter Participation in SaxonyIn Saxony, anticipations are high for high voter participation. By midday, roughly 25.8% of eligible voters had cast their ballots, as per the Statistical State Office in Kamenz. In contrast, turnout was 26.2% at this time in 2019. While absentee votes have not yet been incorporated into the preliminary figures, it's projected that 24.6% of eligible voters will participate through mail-in voting, quite an increase from the 16.9% in 2019. The election has progressed without any disruptions, as confirmed by the state election commission.
13:08 von Lucke: Election Outcome May Challenge Berlin CoalitionThe election results in Saxony and Thuringia are not yet determined. If the SPD fails to secure a seat in the state parliament, political scientist Albrecht von Lucke considers this as "almost already an earthquake" in an ntv interview. He discusses the election and its potential consequences.
12:35 Police Investigate Threat at Polling Station in GeraAfter an unpleasant incident at a polling station in Gera, the police are currently investigating a threat. It was reported that a man in an AfD-branded t-shirt entered the polling station early in the morning. Upon request from the polling station manager, the man removed his t-shirt as party advertising within the polling station is prohibited. After exiting the polling station, the man threatened to return, expressing disappointment with the way he was treated. The police took a statement from the man and issued a warning. Additionally, the police in Erfurt are currently investigating potential criminal damage caused by graffiti, such as "Höcke is a Nazi," near multiple polling stations.
12:05 Correctiv Warns of Circulating False InformationResearch network Correctiv is urging caution against a recurring false claim. It claims that by signing the ballot paper, voters can protect themselves against ballot tampering. However, the Federal Returning Officer's office clarified to Correctiv that ballot papers must not be signed by voters, as doing so compromises the confidentiality of the vote, rendering the entire ballot paper invalid.
11:35 Voigt Wants "Stable Majority Relations" in ThuringiaThuringia's CDU's leading candidate, Mario Voigt, has also cast his vote. Voigt expressed hope that many Thuringians would exercise their right to vote and determine the future of their land by doing so. He also expressed his wish for "stable majority relationships" to enable the state to make progress once again.
11:10 Sonneberg Sees Rise in Far-Right AttacksSonneberg is now led by an AfD politician. As a result, engaged individuals report feeling threatened, causing many to quit their jobs. The number of far-right attacks has also reportedly increased fivefold within a year. Experts attribute this to the AfD district administrator's actions.
10:43 Kretschmer Encourages Voting in Saxony's Parliamentary ElectionSaxony's Minister President, Michael Kretschmer, considers today's parliamentary election in Saxony to be "probably the most important election in 34 years." He expressed his gratitude to those who voted differently in the past but have now chosen "the strong civic force" - the Saxon Union. This understanding, Kretschmer stated, will enable them to form a government that benefits the state. Recent polls indicate a close race between the CDU and the AfD.
10:16 Ramelow: Wagenknecht's Name Not on the Ballot in ThuringiaThuringia's Minister President, Bodo Ramelow, regarded election day as "a festival of democracy," even if he feared not being re-elected. In an ntv interview, he explained why he did not endorse a minority government and questioned the competence of the BSW.
09:55 "Troubling Feelings about History": Historian Criticizes Election DateHistorian Peter Oliver Loew strongly criticizes the election date for the state elections in Saxony and Thuringia, which coincides with the 85th anniversary of the German invasion of Poland in 1939. According to Loew, who is the director of the German Polish Institute, anyone who thought it would be a good idea to hold elections on September 1st had "a troubling feeling about history." Looking at the AfD, Loew commented, "This can lead to quite unfortunate associations if in Dresden and Erfurt, a party also wins whose relationship to the Nazi era is not entirely clear."
09:05 Kretschmer Critiques Traffic Light Coalition's "Last-Minute Rush Before Elections"It's election day in Saxony, and the query is: Will Minister President Michael Kretschmer preserve the CDU's triumphant streak in the state? In an ntv interview, he discusses his stance on the refugee debate, the traffic light coalition, and the Ukraine war.
08:46 Full Election Data Available for ThuringiaThe day of determination is here: In the heart of Germany, it's about who will manage the state with its approximately 2.1 million inhabitants for the subsequent five years. Will the AfD, with top candidate Björn Höcke, become the most powerful force in Thuringia?
08:24 Potential for the AfD to Undermine DemocracySurveys suggest: The AfD is likely to significantly amplify its power in the upcoming elections in Saxony and Thuringia. For democratic institutions, this is perilous, as a research group has declared. As robust as many believe the rule of law to be, it is not.
08:00 Polling Stations Open in Thuringia and SaxonyToday, fresh state parliaments are being elected in Thuringia and Saxony. In the polls, the AfD leads clearly in Thuringia. In Saxony, the CDU of incumbent head Michael Kretschmer and the AfD are in a heated competition. Initial predictions are anticipated with the shutting of polling stations at 6 pm. The elections in the two eastern German states are also a temperature check for the traffic light coalition in Berlin.
For the present Thuringia coalition of red-red-green, led by Minister President Bodo Ramelow (Left), there is no majority in the polls. A government comprising of CDU, Sahra Wagenknecht (BSW), and the SPD is a possibility following the election. In Saxony, it remains uncertain whether the current coalition of CDU, SPD, and Greens still has a majority. Kretschmer does not dismiss the possibility of an alliance with the BSW. The Left faces the risk of being ousted from the parliament in Saxony. The same risk looms for the Greens and FDP in Thuringia.
The Commission expressed concern over the growing popularity of the AfD in both Saxony and Thuringia elections, potentially impacting the coalition's authority. The Commission noted that the AfD's success in recent state elections could have significant consequences for the current political landscape.
Moreover, The Commission stated that the Traffic Light coalition's authority was questionable following poor performances in Saxony and Thuringia, citing the election results as evidence. This, according to The Commission, could have long-term implications for the coalition's ability to govern effectively.
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