The AfD is classified as right-wing extremist in Saxony and Thuringia – but it still wins the elections. But it will not govern because it has no partner. Now it is the CDU’s turn.
For the first time in post-war history, the AfD, a party classified as right-wing extremist, has become the strongest force in a state election. According to the preliminary results, it is in first place in Thuringia. It also gained ground in the state election in Saxony, but ended up just behind the CDU led by Prime Minister Michael Kretschmer. The new coalition led by Sahra Wagenknecht (BSW) achieved double-digit numbers in both states. It was a bitter evening for the parties in the traffic light coalition at the federal level, which were losing votes.
In Thuringia, the AfD led by top candidate Björn Höcke, which is classified as definitely right-wing extremist by the state’s Office for the Protection of the Constitution, increased to 32.8 percent (2019: 23.4 percent) according to the preliminary results. The CDU landed at 23.6 percent (21.7). The BSW managed 15.8 percent from a standing start – leaving Prime Minister Bodo Ramelow’s Left Party far behind, which plummeted dramatically to 13.1 percent (31.0). The parties of the Berlin traffic light government recorded heavy losses: the SPD recorded its worst result in a state election since the founding of the Federal Republic with 6.1 percent (8.2). The Greens were eliminated from parliament with 3.2 (5.2), as did the FDP with 1.1 percent (5.0).
In Saxony, the CDU is at 31.9 percent according to the preliminary results (2019: 32.1 percent). The AfD is only slightly behind with 30.6 percent (27.5). The BSW, a split from the Left, achieved 11.8 percent from the start. The SPD is at 7.3 percent (7.7). The Left achieved 4.5 percent – and thus less than half the share of the vote from five years ago (10.4). It won two direct mandates in Leipzig and is therefore represented in the state parliament, although it is below the five percent hurdle. The Greens narrowly made it into parliament with 5.1 percent (8.6). The Free Voters, who achieved 2.3 percent, also have one MP in parliament who won a direct mandate. The FDP missed out on entry – as in the last two state elections.
Self-critical tones from Ampel im Bund
The figures are a disaster for the traffic light coalition in Berlin: For the SPD, these are the two worst state election results in post-war history. The FDP is not represented in either state parliament. The Greens suffered significant losses in both states.
SPD General Secretary Kevin Kühnert announced that the Social Democrats would raise their profile. The aim was to “become more emancipated”. They no longer wanted to be “led around by the nose by others who have now been voted out of the state parliaments,” he said, referring to disputes with the FDP and the Greens in the traffic light coalition at the federal level.
From the point of view of Green Party leader Omid Nouripour, the dispute is one of the reasons for the poor performance of the traffic light parties. They have to “take responsibility for themselves”.
FDP leader Christian Lindner wrote on Platform X: “The results in Saxony and Thuringia are painful. But no one should be deceived, because we are not giving up our fight for liberal values.”
FDP deputy chairman Wolfgang Kubicki called for consequences for the federal coalition. “The election result shows: the traffic light coalition has lost its legitimacy,”
BSW party leader Wagenknecht spoke of a tremendous success. The issue of peace moves many people deeply. They reject the planned stationing of long-range US missiles in Germany. A state government must take this wish into account and campaign for it at the federal level. She is not aiming for a ministerial post in Thuringia. Her task is to lead the BSW into the Bundestag with a strong parliamentary group in 2025.
CDU General Secretary Carsten Linnemann viewed the elections as a success for his party. He sees “a real remaining people’s party,” he said. “We are the bulwark.”
Höcke wants to govern in Thuringia – but has no partners
In Thuringia, the previous red-red-green minority coalition under Prime Minister Ramelow, which has been dependent on cooperation with the CDU since 2019, has no realistic chance of continuing to govern. The AfD will remain outside the new government because the other parties have ruled out a coalition.
Nevertheless, Thuringia’s AfD leader Höcke believes that his party has a mandate to govern. He wants to talk to the other parties about coalitions, said the 52-year-old, who was sentenced to two fines in the first instance a few weeks ago for using a Nazi slogan. Höcke missed out on a direct mandate in his constituency in East Thuringia. However, he will get into parliament via the AfD’s state list.
With more than a third of the seats, the AfD has a so-called blocking minority in the state parliament: decisions and elections that require a two-thirds majority must be approved. For example, constitutional judges are elected by parliament with a two-thirds majority.
The most likely option for a coalition would be an unprecedented alliance between the CDU, BSW and SPD. However, this constellation lacks one seat for a majority in the state parliament. Such an alliance would therefore also be dependent on the Left.
Thuringia’s CDU leader Mario Voigt sees the forecasts as a mandate to form a government under his leadership, as the 47-year-old said on election night. He announced that he wanted to approach the SPD and was also “open to discussion” on the BSW.
CDU politicians in particular are bothered by the fact that Wagenknecht was a member of the GDR state party SED and later a leading figure in the communist platform in the Left Party. A coalition would be possible, however, because according to an incompatibility resolution, the CDU is not allowed to form a coalition with either the AfD or the Left Party – but the BSW is not covered by this.
Black-green-red coalition in Saxony just lacks majority
Saxony has had a CDU-led government since reunification – since 2019, Prime Minister Michael Kretschmer has headed a coalition with the Greens and SPD. According to the preliminary results, however, the coalition missed out on another majority, with a total of only 57 out of 120 seats.
None of the other parties want to form a coalition with the AfD, which is also classified as right-wing extremist in Saxony. Therefore, an alliance between the CDU, BSW and SPD is on the table as an option. Kretschmer said that his CDU is ready to take on responsibility again and form a stable government.
In Saxony, too, the AfD now has more than a third of the state parliament mandates with 41 seats and thus a so-called blocking minority.
Source: Stern
I have been working in the news industry for over 6 years, first as a reporter and now as an editor. I have covered politics extensively, and my work has appeared in major newspapers and online news outlets around the world. In addition to my writing, I also contribute regularly to 24 Hours World.
