Alternative for Germany May Seize Two Key States in This Sunday’s Elections
The German government, currently led by a leftist coalition under Olaf Scholz, is anxiously anticipating the upcoming regional elections in two crucial Länder. On September 1, Saxony and Thuringia will hold elections that are expected to be historic, with the nationalist Alternative for Germany (AfD) poised for a sweeping victory. On the left, the Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance (BSW) is also gaining momentum.
In the former East Germany, dissatisfaction with the policies and actions of the federal coalition government is growing. Polls indicate that the AfD is emerging as the strongest party in Saxony and Thuringia, followed by the Christian Democrats (CDU). Meanwhile, the BSW, a national left-wing party established last winter, is climbing to third place, with support ranging between 15-20%.
This unusual pairing—AfD from the right and BSW from the left—is united by their opposition to the globalism promoted by the German government.
A poll conducted in January this year revealed that if elections had been held in Saxony at that time, the anti-immigration AfD would have likely secured a majority with 37% of the vote, followed by the CDU with around 30%. The Social Democrats would not have even entered the state Parliament.
Recent figures show a slight shift, but this does not mean that Michael Kretschmer, leader of the Christian Democrat, Socialist, and Green coalition in Saxony, can rest easy. Opinion polls indicate that they hold only a 4% lead, with the AfD close behind at 30%.
The serious terrorist attack in Solingen on Friday, along with the ongoing rise in other crimes related to immigrants, could further complicate matters for Kretschmer.
In Thuringia, where the CDU governs with the Greens, the AfD is leading with 30% of the vote, while only 21% support the CDU and just 3% back the Greens.
