Yvonne Catterfeld states that the Alternative for Germany (AfD) is not a viable solution.
The election outcomes in Saxony and Thuringia have raised concerns for notable figures like Yvonne Catterfeld. The singer, originally hailing from Erfurt, expresses worries about her home region's future. She is confident that the AfD will continue to stir up division and threaten democracy and the rule of law.
In both Saxony and Thuringia, over a third of voters opted for the AfD. Notably, in Thuringia, the party emerged as the leading force for the first time in a state election. Despite this, their state associations in both regions are labeled as firmly right-wing extremist, with Thuringian party leader Björn Höcke legally categorized as a fascist.
While approximately one-third of voters chose the far-right party, others exhibit apprehensions about this trend. Singer Yvonne Catterfeld, born in Erfurt's capital, voiced her concerns while polling stations were still active on her Instagram page.
She has been closely following Thuringia's developments with concern for a long time, she writes. At the same time, she expresses empathy for those who share her worries and attributes the AfD's substantial performance to voters' concerns for other reasons, feeling neglected by politics.
However, for Catterfeld, it's clear: "The AfD is not the solution and will not find solutions to the problems, but will deepen the division in our state and further endanger our rule of law and democracy." She uses their treatment of journalists and the media landscape as examples. "And that's just the start," she warns, posing a rhetorical question to AfD supporters: "Have you ever thoroughly read the party's program?"
Despite her disillusionment with democratic parties' politics, Catterfeld also seems somewhat frustrated. "I wish our politicians would wake up and make amends for years of negligence, and rebuild trust," she says. She further adds, "I believe that politics has lost most voters in Thuringia and Saxony and I hope for a politics that is approachable, fair, and where people feel safe again, economically as well."
Regrettably, the landscape for forming a functional state government in both Saxony and Thuringia remains unclear since the election results on Sunday evening.
Yvonne Catterfeld, expressing her concerns on her Instagram, stated, "I've been closely following Thuringia's developments with concern for a long time." She further added, "The entertainment industry, including journalists and the media landscape, should be respected and protected, as the AfD's treatment of these elements poses a threat to our democracy and rule of law."
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