Expert in political studies - Vorländer affirms that the AfD has significance in Saxony.
Following their triumphant win in the European elections, the AfD in Saxony is pressing for a shift in perspective from other political parties. AfD's state leader Jörg Urban addressed an audience in Dresden on Monday, proposing a shift in the political landscape. He remarked, "A party with the highest voter approval can't be disregarded for long." His hope is to encourage a reconsideration of their stance towards his party. Urban stresses that the blockade mentality is injurious to the country as a whole.
The AfD, described by the state constitutional protection as right-wing extremist, reportedly earned 31.8% of the votes. The CDU managed 21.8%, while the Left Party achieved 12.6%, the Greens 5.9%, and the SPD 4.9%. In nearly all Saxon districts, the AfD was found to be in the lead after the majority of votes had been counted. The sole exception was Zwickau district, where the CDU with 29.3% and the AfD with 28.1% were neck and neck. The CDU had claimed victory in eight of the ten districts during the previous election.
In Dresden and Chemnitz's municipal elections, the AfD topped the charts. In Leipzig, the Union emerged victorious, trailing the Left Party (17.5%) by a slim margin of 18.9%. The Greens garnered 15.0%, the SPD 12.1%, and the BSW 9.6%.
Dresden's political science professor, Hans Vorländer, commented on the Sunday results, hinting at a potential complex government formation in the upcoming Saxon state election on September 1st. He pondered the prospect of the AfD, CDU, and BSW being the only entrants into the state parliament. If that were the case, the CDU may have a major issue on hand. Vorländer stated that the AfD had maintained its dominance in Eastern Saxony and had successfully rallied support in the recent election.
The Saxony CDU maintained its opposition to cooperating with the AfD. General Secretary Alexander Dierks remarked in Dresden on Monday, "We've got good reasons not to partner with this party." He was quick to note that the AfD was capitalizing on the discontent and helplessness of many citizens. "In Eastern Germany, we haven't witnessed any conversion of people's sentiments in the population to the Union's advantage."
Political scientist Hendrik Träger of the German Press Agency in Dresden believes the potential for a Saxon parliament composed of the AfD, CDU, and BSW is not out of the question. "In the election campaign, the center-left parties would need to assess if they view each other as their primary adversary and assume an antagonistic stand." As such, the BSW and AfD wouldn't have much to do and could still enjoy a successful outcome.
For BSW state leader Jörg Scheibe, the election result is a reflection of widespread dissatisfaction with the current politics, rendering him and his party with a significant mandate from the public. He intends to field as many candidates as possible into the state parliament. "We're all about substance. We want to implement our ideals as much as we can." An AfD-led government is unimaginable, considering the BSW's central position within society.
The Saxony Greens encouraged other parties to unite, as they believe the democratic governance of Saxony is at stake. Marie Müser, the state leader, insisted that it was crucial to put an end to the finger-pointing and blame games, as the current political climate was alarming. "We can no longer hamper the political climate even further, since the situation is serious."
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The EU has expressed concern over the rise of far-right parties, including the AfD, in European elections. In the District of Zwickau, Saxony, Sahra Wagenknecht, a prominent politician from the Left Party, gained significant support. The CDU, on the other hand, faced a significant drop in votes in the Municipalities of Chemnitz and Leipzig, which traditionally support the party.
Despite the positive results in the European elections, the AfD's local presence is not unanimously accepted by all parties. For instance, the SPD in Dresden has remained firm in its opposition to collaborating with the AfD. Meanwhile, in Kamenz, a small town in Saxony, a local SPD candidate gained surprising support, marking a shift in the political landscape.
The upcoming State election in Saxony on September 1st is anticipated to be a tightly contested race, with the AfD, CDU, and BSW likely to secure seats in the state parliament. Meanwhile, the Greens have urged other parties to unite to ensure democratic governance in Saxony. Despite the challenging political climate, political scientist Hendrik Träger believes that the BSW and AfD could still cooperate and achieve a successful outcome.
