Politics in upheaval: Thuringia and Saxony after the elections

Politics in upheaval: Thuringia and Saxony after the elections

Erfurt/Dresden/Berlin (dpa) - After the latest state elections in Saxony and Thuringia, the political landscapes in both federal states are on the brink. The effects can be felt to Berlin and show that the traffic light coalition has come under pressure. Although it still exists officially, there is noticeable perplexity about the future orientation. In both countries, politics and parties now urgently have to find new majorities.

A central point of the current political situation is the realignment of the party landscape. The CDU is rejecting possible coalitions with the left, the AfD or the alliance Sahra Wagenknecht (BSW). Political scientist Oliver Lembcke sums it up: The CDU faces the challenge of rethinking its strategy and possibly overcoming the fire wall to the Left Party. Because the complicated election results make it clear: Without new coalitions, there is a risk of standstill.

The role of the AfD

The successes of the AfD cannot be overlooked. In Thuringia, the party was able to win the most votes and in Saxony she also achieved a record result with over 30 percent. If there are blocking majorities, the AfD could act with a so -called blocking minority for the first time. This would enable the party to block decisions that need a two-thirds majority. Thuringia's AfD state chief Björn Höcke sees this as an inevitable role and emphasizes that a stable policy is not possible without the AfD.

While the AfD stages itself as an indispensable player, the question remains what a collaboration with other parties could look like. So far, many shy away from coalizing with the right -wing extremist party, which leads to an increased tension in the political arena. In this context, Höcke prefers to speak of a “design minority” to disguise the image of the AfD.

consequences of the election campaign

The influence of populist tactics on voters is particularly interesting. Both the AfD and the BSW have scored with sharp attacks on the established parties. In this emotionally charged atmosphere, these attacks on popular topics such as asylum policy and the Ukraine War seem to have received resonance. Saxony's Prime Minister Michael Kretschmer skillfully exploited this trend and distanced his views of Berlin.

Little influence seem to have had the numerous demonstrations against right -wing extremism. Despite the massive protests and appeals of churches and associations, the AfD mobilized its voters and achieved record results. The division between the supporters of the AfD and its opponents could continue to make a constructive base of the conversation more difficult, which becomes clear when you look at the reactions during the campaign grades.

The next important choice is also in front of Brandenburg. On September 22, the SPD must deliver a strong result there because it defends the prime minister. The weather in Thuringia and Saxony could have health effects on voters in neighboring Brandenburg. High expectations are linked to the SPD, for example through the statements of Secretary General Kevin Kühnert, who indicates that the dissatisfaction of many in the federal states also affects the Chancellor Party.