Regional elections in Saxony and Thuringia mark a new political turmoil
After the regional elections in Saxony and Thuringia, where the far-right AfD gained significant support, and the left-wing BSW also achieved success, the German media stated that although the results were not surprising, they marked "a terrible turning point in Germany's post-war history." Commentators also noted that they should serve as a warning for supporters of democracy.
2 September 2024 09:42
The election evening in Saxony and Thuringia signifies not only a crisis for the ruling parties. "It symbolises a crisis of liberal democracy," wrote the "Spiegel" weekly portal. "AfD is a far-right party, whilst BSW represents (...) a kind of left-wing conservatism. Despite all their deep differences, both parties share an aversion to all forms of liberalism."
"Can the political centre still do anything to win back the people? The good news: yes, it can. The bad news is that it might take a very long time," noted "Spiegel".
According to forecasts published after the polling stations closed, Alternative for Germany (AfD) won in Thuringia, ahead of the CDU. In Saxony, the Christian Democrats have a slight lead over AfD.
The election results "scream in the face of Olaf Scholz's government"
"Migration and the war could have been important issues in these elections, but the frustration of most people goes much deeper and is fuelled by daily experiences," stated the portal. "When roads and bridges are damaged, when there is once again no mobile network, and when every train journey becomes a lottery, a fundamental feeling arises at some point: everything is falling apart, nothing works anymore, and we are being left behind. And in Berlin, no one cares."
"The election results in Saxony and Thuringia scream in the face of Chancellor Olaf Scholz's government: migration, you fool! But the outcome must be a warning for all democrats," wrote the "Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung" (FAZ) portal.
The result "is not a surprise. All polls indicated a tsunami of anger and disappointment towards the coalition parties. No matter how much the ruling parties in Saxony and Thuringia tried to draw voters' attention to the particular characteristics of their regions, federal political issues gave AfD a boost and helped the alliance of Sahra Wagenknecht (...): immigration, internal security, the heating law, rising living costs, relations with Putin's Russia," according to FAZ.
In the elections in Thuringia and Saxony, "not a stone was left unturned," wrote the RND portal. "This election Sunday is a turning point." For the first time, AfD in Thuringia, a far-right party "with a fascist as the main candidate," won the regional elections. "The three parties SPD, the Greens, and FDP, which form the federal government in Berlin, were crushed. It is hard to find more humiliating election results."
"Without a doubt today, on the 85th anniversary of Germany's invasion of Poland, something historic happened in Thuringia," wrote the "Zeit" weekly portal, emphasising that for the first time in the history of the Federal Republic of Germany, a far-right party won an election. "In Saxony, it seems that AfD's victory was prevented, but only by a few votes."
"It is a terrible turning point in Germany's post-war history," concludes the "Zeit" weekly portal.
