- Young individuals: One-third align with AfD - two-thirds express apprehension towards it
Alternative for Germany (AfD) emerges victorious in simulated youth election in Saxony, securing 34.5% of votes from individuals under 18, as per the Saxon Youth Circle's reports.
The Christian Democratic Union (CDU) came in second place with 16.2%, while Die Linke (The Left) trailed behind with 11.8%. The Social Democratic Party (SPD) garnered 8.5% of youth votes, the Greens managed 5.7%, and the Bavarian Social Welfare Party (BSW) just barely surpassed satirist Martin Sonneborn's party with 4.8%. Sonneborn's party would have missed out on a seat in the state parliament with such low votes.
AfD held the largest share of votes in Bautzen, amounting to 57.1%. CDU followed at a considerable distance with 15.6%. Only Die Linke (6.5%) and SPD (5.1%) managed votes exceeding 5%.
Vincent Drews, chairman of the Saxon Youth Circle, expressed his concerns about the AfD's strong performance, stating, "The AfD's success in this election is alarming and suggests that their ideologies resonate with young people. It's a clear mandate for us and all democratic advocates to persistently promote and safeguard democratic values. These results underscore the significant role of youth programs in our society."
Approximately 9,000 votes were cast in the U18 state election, although it does not accurately represent the youth populace but rather serves as a project for political education. Polling stations dedicated to this election were available in 150 locations across Saxony between August 19 and 23.
Youth Election Survey: Anxiety towards AfD and Greens
Elsewhere, the 2024 Youth Election Survey conducted by the Institute for Generational Research discovered that 65% of first-time voters in the Eastern regions fear the AfD (74% in the Western regions), and many also share concerns about the Greens (30% in the East and 25% in the West).
Institute founder Rüdiger Maas commented, "This is a new trend for us, as young people express real fears towards political parties, not just the AfD, but also others. These fears are often fueled by videos circulating on social media, portraying the Greens as dangerous."
Researchers from the Augsburg Institute conducted a study on youth voting habits prior to the upcoming state elections in Thuringia and Saxony. They surveyed 870 individuals aged 16 to 25 across Germany and interviewed 132 young people.
Tolerance towards diverse voting decisions
Direct interviews revealed tolerance towards the voting decisions of other young voters, even if they support the AfD or vice versa. "They say, 'That's my buddy, and I respect his views, even if they differ from mine'", said Maas. He also added that the classic left-right divide is becoming less important, with one in four people rejecting this dichotomy.
Additionally, 41% of respondents agreed that the government does not prioritize the needs of everyday people, and around a third felt that the government actively opposes the population. Regardless of political leanings, migration emerged as the most significant issue, followed by right-wing extremism and climate change.
The Commission expressed its concern over the AfD's strong performance in the youth election, stating that it indicates a worrying resonance of their ideologies among young people. It urged for persistent promotion and safeguarding of democratic values among the youth.
In light of the Youth Election Survey, The Commission found that a significant number of young people across Germany, both in Eastern and Western regions, express fear towards parties like the AfD and the Greens.
