- Voter participation reaching 55% in the midday state legislature elections
In the recent Thuringia Elections, voter participation seems to be slightly boosted compared to 2019. As of 4:00 PM, around 55% of eligible voters had cast their ballots in voting stations, stated the election commissioner. Mail-in voters are not included in these figures. Contrasting 2019, voter turnout was 54.1% at this point.
Compared to the European and nearby elections held earlier this year, there appears to be a resurgence of interest. At the same time in June, voter turnout was a mere 45.3%.
Polling stations stay open until 6:00 PM. At midday, major party candidates, even family members, had cast their votes at these stations.
Incident at a Polling Station
No significant issues have been reported from the polling stations so far. However, a minor incident occurred in a polling station in Gera. A man wearing an AfD t-shirt showed up early in the morning to vote. The polling station supervisor asked him to remove the shirt as party promotions are prohibited within the premises.
The man complied, but upon leaving the polling station grounds, he issued a threat. Police subsequently filed a report and warned the man. Furthermore, authorities in Erfurt are investigating some defamatory political graffiti, such as "Hoecke is a Nazi," near polling stations overnight on Saturday as cases of vandalism, as reported by a police spokesperson.
Divided Society, Challenging Coalition Formation Anticipated
The rifts exposed during the campaigning were palpable in Erfurt even the day prior to the election: Around 1,300 supporters of the AfD cheered their prominent far-right candidate, Björn Höcke. Simultaneously, around 3,000 counter-protesters congregated at the Cathedral Square, denouncing right-wing extremism and advocating for openness.
Surveys suggest that creating a majority in the state parliament following the elections will be incredibly tough. The AfD may potentially garner approximately 30% of the votes, positioning itself as the strongest force in the state parliament. However, no major party is keen on partnering with the AfD for coalition formation. The latest polls place the CDU just slightly ahead of the BSW in second and third place. The BSW is participating in a Thuringia election for the very first time.
Currently, a minority government comprising of the Left, the Greens, and the SPD governs Thuringia. The Left, under Minister President Bodo Ramelow's leadership, has seen a marked decline in polls compared to the previous election, with around 14%. The SPD is forecast to barely meet the 5% threshold. The Greens and the FDP are not expected to surpass the 5% threshold, thereby missing out on joining the state parliament. It's crucial to remember that polls can only reflect the prevailing opinion climate at the time of the survey and are not reliable indicators of election results.
The boosted voter turnout in the Thuringia Elections is a positive sign and may indicate a growing interest in politics. At 4:00 PM, voter turnout was already at 55%, surpassing the 2019 figure of 54.1% at the same time.
As political tensions remain high, the potential 30% vote share for the AfD could further fragment the political landscape. Despite being the strongest force in the state parliament, major parties are unlikely to form a coalition with the AfD due to their far-right beliefs.
