Politics in upheaval: What the elections for Saxony and Thuringia mean

Politics in upheaval: What the elections for Saxony and Thuringia mean

Erfurt/Dresden/Berlin (dpa) - The aftermath of the state elections in Thuringia and Saxony are clearly noticeable in German politics. The traffic light coalition in Berlin is still being inArated, but the shock through the election results has made it clear that turbulent times are due in the future. In particular, the search for political majorities in the affected federal states is as challenging.

The CDU sees itself in the Zwickmühle. While you strictly reject a coalition with the left or the AfD, the votes in Thuringia and Saxons are distributed so that it is almost impossible to ensure stable government relationships without considering new political alliance models. Oliver Lembcke, political scientist, provides the frightening diagnosis that the choice was a rage choice for many that was directed against the established West German party landscape.

the AfD as the main actor

The AfD has achieved considerable election results in Thuringia and Saxony and now wants to participate more than ever to the government. With over 30 percent in Saxony and the strongest force in Thuringia, she puts the political structure to the test. The head of state of the Thuringian AfD, Björn Höcke, has already emphasized that government formation is not possible without the party. The AfD sees itself as a vote that is supposedly ignored and has achieved a so -called blocking minority through its success. This allows the AfD to block important political decisions, which could bring the state parliament into a precarious situation.

The strict political attacks, as expressed by the AfD and the founding of the alliance Sahra Wagenknecht (BSW), raise the question of the extent to which populism actually hits the pulse of citizens or whether this is only tactical move. Prime Minister Michael Kretschmer from Saxony has undertaken to distance itself more from the Berlin headquarters of the CDU, which was significant in the context of voter satisfaction. Topics such as the Ukraine conflict and asylum policy were of central importance for many voters.

fight against right -wing extremist influence

Contrary to the voter flows that the AfD have given a record result, there were numerous demonstrations against right -wing extremism in the days before the election. Hundreds of people gathered in Erfurt and Dresden to protest against the strengthening influence of the AfD. However, these protest actions could not influence the election results, and the polarization between the political camps can also be seen in the reactions to the current election results. Emotional speeches, especially from Höcke, heated up the mood and served the supporters as a drive. The question remains how a constructive dialogue can be established between the different political camps.

While the political waves are up, the next election is already pending. In Brandenburg will be elected on September 22nd, and the uncertainties from Thuringia and Saxony could play a role here. In particular, the SPD, which defends the prime minister in the east, is in a critical situation. If the SPD fails in Brandenburg, this could lead to internal discussions and possibly even to the questioning of the leadership of Chancellor Olaf Scholz. General Secretary Kevin Kühnert already indicated that the resentment of the voters from the two countries is widely understood as a sign of dissatisfaction with the government in Berlin.