AfD Wins Regional Election in Germany for the First Time
Jun 26, 2023 at 06:23 Update: 24 minutes ago
The right-wing populist party AfD has made history by winning a regional election in Germany for the first time. The AfD candidate, Robert Stuhlmann, will become a district administrator in the state of Thuringia. Although Thuringia is a small area, the election result is causing quite a stir.
However, many parties are reluctant to cooperate with AfD. The internal security service has assessed the party, which was founded ten years ago, as right-wing extremist. This assessment has further fueled the controversy surrounding AfD’s victory.
In the district of Sonneberg, with a population of about 57,000, AfD candidate Robert Stuhlmann defeated the incumbent district administrator from the center-right CDU party with almost 53 percent of the vote. The other parties had initially aligned themselves with the CDU candidate after the first round of elections.
Despite being one of the smallest districts in Germany, AfD’s victory is seen as a breakthrough for the party. German intelligence considers the AfD branch in Thuringia and its controversial leader Björn Höcke as potentially dangerous extremists.
AfD is also making significant gains nationally. According to a recent poll, the party is at more than 19 percent, putting them ahead of Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s party, the social democratic SPD, which would receive only 17 percent of the vote. Although AfD is still behind the CDU, their rise in popularity is noteworthy.
Analysts attribute AfD’s success to their ability to tap into negative sentiment among voters, particularly regarding immigration and the transition to a green economy. The party has even announced plans to nominate a chancellor candidate for the 2025 federal election. AfD’s popularity is especially prominent in eastern Germany.
The outcome of this regional election has significant implications for German politics. It remains to be seen how other parties will respond to AfD’s victory and whether it will impact future elections on a national level.
How has AfD’s victory in the regional election in Thuringia impacted the political landscape in Germany?
AfD Makes History: Right-Wing Populist Party Wins Regional Election in Germany
In a groundbreaking turn of events, the right-wing populist party AfD has emerged triumphant in a regional election in Germany for the very first time. Robert Stuhlmann, the AfD candidate, will soon take up the role of district administrator in Thuringia, marking a significant shift in the political landscape. While Thuringia may be a smaller region, the outcome of this election has sent shockwaves throughout the country.
Nevertheless, numerous parties remain hesitant to form alliances with AfD. The party, established a decade ago, has been classified as right-wing extremist by the internal security service. This classification has only intensified the controversy surrounding AfD’s victory in the election.
In Sonneberg, a district with a population of approximately 57,000, Robert Stuhlmann of AfD secured an impressive victory, capturing nearly 53 percent of the vote and defeating the incumbent district administrator from the center-right CDU party. Initially, other parties had aligned themselves with the CDU candidate after the first round of elections.
Though one of the smallest districts in Germany, AfD’s triumph in Sonneberg is considered a major breakthrough for the party. The German intelligence agency views the AfD branch in Thuringia and its controversial leader, Björn Höcke, as potentially dangerous extremists.
On a national level, AfD is also experiencing significant gains. According to recent polling, the party’s popularity exceeds 19 percent, placing them ahead of Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s party, the social democratic SPD, who are projected to receive only 17 percent of the vote. While AfD still trails behind the CDU, their rise in popularity is worth noting.
Experts attribute AfD’s success to their ability to tap into negative sentiments among voters, particularly regarding immigration and the transition to a more environmentally friendly economy. The party has even announced plans to nominate a candidate for chancellor in the 2025 federal election. AfD’s popularity is particularly prominent in eastern Germany.
The outcome of this regional election carries significant implications for German politics. It remains to be seen how other parties will respond to AfD’s victory and whether it will impact future national elections.
The historic win of AfD in the German regional election is alarming and raises serious concerns about the rise of far-right politics in the country. It underlines the importance of understanding and addressing the underlying factors that contribute to this kind of support among voters.
The AfD’s historic win in the German regional election is a worrying development that has caused significant stir and raised concerns about the growing influence of right-wing ideologies in the country. It serves as a stark reminder of the need to address the underlying issues that have fueled this rise in extremism.