After AfD's historic win in Thuringia there are coalition talks
The leader of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) in Thuringia, Björn Höcke, whose party won the state parliament elections on Sunday, declared in the evening that AfD "achieved a historic result."
1 September 2024 21:03
- We are the number one people's party in Thuringia - said Höcke on ARD television after the exit poll results announced that AfD won in this eastern state of the Federal Republic of Germany. - The old parties should practice humility - the politician added.
Höcke wants to hold talks with other parties about participating in the Thuringian government. We are ready to take on governmental responsibility, he assured. AfD leader Alice Weidel also spoke of her party's "historic success," which has become the largest political force in Thuringia for the first time.
She added that in Saxony, where elections to the state parliament also took place on Sunday, AfD "achieved a better result than we expected." In her opinion, voters want AfD to participate in the government.
The founder of the radical left-wing BSW party, Sahra Wagenknecht, ruled out cooperation with AfD in Thuringia under the leadership of Björn Höcke. Mr. Höcke represents a volkist worldview miles away from us, Wagenknecht said on ARD television. Wagenknecht hopes that BSW will be able to form a good government in Thuringia along with the CDU and—according to current data—also with the SPD.
The Prime Minister of Thuringia, Bodo Ramelow (Left), believes that CDU candidate Mario Voigt is best suited to form a government.
Ramelow said on ARD television, referring to the CDU's results, that the person from the democratic spectrum with the most votes must start the talks and send the invitations, as he would support everyone who helps us achieve a democratic majority in the parliament. According to exit polls, Voigt's party placed behind AfD in the Thuringian elections.
The Prime Minister of Saxony, Michael Kretschmer of the CDU, which, according to surveys, won Sunday's elections in that state, expressed satisfaction. -We have every reason to celebrate, he said, as quoted by the "Welt" newspaper's portal. He added that after five difficult years, the people of Saxony have trusted the Christian Democrats. He assured us we are ready to continue taking responsibility for our state.
According to forecasts published after the polling stations closed, the AfD won in Thuringia ahead of the CDU. In Saxony, the Christian Democrats have a slight edge over the AfD.
