Thuringia election: AfD triumphs-CDU wants government responsibility
Thuringia election: AfD triumphs-CDU wants government responsibility
The elections in Thuringia have made large waves. The first projections published at 6 p.m. show a clear increase for the alternative for Germany (AfD), which could move into the state parliament with around 30.5 percent as the strongest force. This number marks a significant leap compared to the 23.4 percent of the last choice. The CDU follows in second place with about 24.5 percent, which also represents an improvement compared to 2019.
The left of the left is particularly striking, which has now fallen from 31.0 percent to only 12.4 percent. The Social Democrats and the Greens also experienced a weak result, with 6.8 and 3.8 percent. The news about the establishment of the Bundestag election already throw shadows on a possible political stability in this region.
political reactions to the first results
Mario Voigt, the CDU chairman, sees the forecasts as an order to form a government, and plans talks with other parties, especially the SPD. "We consider this as an opportunity for the political change led by the CDU," said Voigt in Erfurt.
Also Sahra Wagenknecht, the head of the Sahra Wagenknecht alliance (BSW), spoke up and categorically concluded a collaboration with Björn Höcke from the AfD. "I don't understand why we are always asked about it," she emphasized. The BSW, which occurred for the first time in these elections, could position itself differently in the political scenery than was previously the case.
The rise of the AfD
The celebrations of the AfD supporters in the Hopfurt inn in Erfurt are an expression of their relief and joy about the result. The mood was euphoric when the first projections were published. Björn Höcke, the top candidate, described the result as a "historical victory" and already announced that he wanted to have talks with other parties in order to take over government responsibility. He spoke out against what he referred to as the "stupid fire wall talk" of the CDU and asked the old parties to be humble.
Observations before and during the election process also suggest a complex atmosphere of uncertainty. Behind the scenes was reported by the police about incidents in which candidates were pressed by political opponents in front of or during the election. An incident in Gera, in which an AfD-T-shirt entered a polling station, was discussed by the police, which indicates the tensions and conflicts that prevail in these elections.
Voter turnout seems to have risen slightly compared to previous elections, at around 55 percent until lunchtime. Surveys show a growing interest in the state election, which differs from the lower number of participants in European and local elections. This phenomenon could indicate an increased political awareness within the Thuringian population.
The development of the political landscape in Thuringia is on the crossroads. With extremism, emotional reactions and the challenges to the traditional parties, it turns out that the coming days will be decisive to clearly define the new coalitions and the direction in which Thuringia moves. The political actors are required to take responsibility and to find a balance between the various opinions, while the AfD gains power and influence.