Germany’s far-right AfD is leading the Thuringia state election, according to an exit poll by broadcaster ZDF, although it is unlikely to form a government.
The Alternative for Germany gathers 33.5% compared to 23.4% in 2019, followed by the Christian Democrats with 24.5%, (21.7% in 2019). The newly formed populist party, the Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance, or BSW, came in third with 14.5%.
The Social Democrats, Greens and Free Democrats of Chancellor Olaf Solz’s tripartite coalition took 6.5%, 4% and 1% respectively, up from 8.2%, 5.2% and 5% in 2019.
The Christian Democrats lead in Saxony
The opposition Christian Democrats lead by just half a percentage point of the far-right in the eastern state of Saxony.
The Christian Democrats (CDU), which have ruled Saxony since reunification more than 30 years ago, appeared to secure 32% of the vote compared to 32.1% in 2019.
But the AfD was close behind with 31.5% in the ZDF exit poll, up from 27.5% in 2019, with the populist BSW in third place with 11.5%.
The exit poll by broadcaster ARD gave the conservatives a slightly larger lead.
Historic upheaval
This is – more so in the case of Thuringia, but to a large extent also for Saxony – a reversal of historical importance, as for the first time since the end of the Second World War a far-right party has won state elections. The AfD in the state is labeled an “extremist far-right party” by the authorities while its local leader, pictured Björn Hecke, is on trial for using Nazi symbols.
As the other factions have categorically rejected the possibility of working with the AfD, the prospect of it being in the state government is very slim.
Of political interest for Germany and Europe are the performances of Sarah Wagenknecht’s party, which comes from the party of the Left (Die Linke) but adopts a tough stance on issues such as immigration, European issues or the Russian-Ukrainian war. The percentages he received, according to the exit polls, are impressive for a party that is not even a year old.
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