State elections

Saxony and Thuringia: Polling stations open

(Bild: APA/dpa/Martin Schutt)

A new state parliament was elected in the eastern German states of Saxony and Thuringia on Sunday. For the first time in post-war history, the AfD, a party classified as far-right, has become the strongest force in a state election in Germany. According to projections by ARD and ZDF, it is in first place in Thuringia. It also made gains in Saxony, but finished just behind the CDU. 

In Saxony, the CDU has 31.9% (2019: 32.1%). The AfD is close behind with 30.6% (27.5%). The BSW, a split-off from the Left Party, achieved 11.8% from a standing start. The SPD is at 7.3 to 7.4 percent (7.7). The Left Party achieves 4.5 percent (10.4), but enters the state parliament after winning two direct mandates. The Greens are still represented in the state parliament with 5.1 percent (8.6).

FDP fails to enter parliament for the 3rd time in a row
The FDP once again failed to enter parliament - as it did in the last two state elections. However, all parties with less than five percent can make it into the Saxon state parliament if they win two direct mandates. The Left Party is likely to achieve this.

 In an initial reaction, AfD leader Bernd Höcke spoke of a "historic victory".

AfD wins a state election for the first time
In Thuringia, top candidate Björn Höcken's AfD, which has been classified by the State Office for the Protection of the Constitution as a confirmed right-wing extremist party, increased its share of thevoteto 32.8 percent (2019: 23.4 percent) according to the preliminary official results. The CDU landed at 23.6% (21.7%). From a standing start, the BSW achieved 15.6% - leaving Prime Minister Bodo Ramelow's Left Party far behind, which plummeted dramatically to 13.1% (31.0).

The parties of the Berlin traffic light government recorded heavy losses: the SPD, with 6.1 percent, is even below its worst result in Thuringia to date (8.2). The Greens left parliament with 3.2% (5.2), as did the FDP with 1.1% (5.0). An alliance of CDU, BSW and SPD would not have a majority.

No AfD alliance partner in sight
However, there is no alliance partner in sight for the AfD in either Dresden or Erfurt. Both state associations are classified by the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution as being right-wing extremist. It is therefore eagerly awaited which government majorities will be possible without the party. The formation of a coalition is proving difficult in both states.

The Sahra Wagenknecht (BSW) alliance, which was only founded at the beginning of the year, was well into double figures in the polls in both federal states.(Bild: AFP/Ronny HARTMANN / AFP)

Petra Köpping (SPD)(Bild: APA/dpa/Hendrik Schmidt)

A slap in the face for the traffic light coalition in Berlin too
It was clear even before the elections that the elections in Thuringia and Saxony were going to be a big slap in the face for the traffic light coalition in Berlin. But never before have the parties that make up the federal government together achieved such poor results in state elections.

In Saxony, 25.8 percent of eligible voters cast their vote by midday, according to the State Statistical Office in Kamenz. In the previous state election in 2019, the figure at the same time was 26.2 percent.

Postal voters not yet included
The provisional figures do not yet include postal voters. It is expected that 24.6 percent of eligible voters will exercise their right to vote by post. In 2019, it was 16.9 percent. According to the state electoral administration, the elections started in the morning without any disruptions.

In Thuringia, voter turnout is expected to be similar to the previous parliamentary election. According to the state election administrator, around 32 percent of eligible voters had cast their votes at polling stations by 12 noon.

According to the state returning officer, postal voters are not included in these figures. In the 2019 state election, voter turnout at this time of day was 31.2 percent.