Far-Right AfD Wins in Saxony and Thuringia, Scholz Coalition Defeated

Sep 1, 2024, 09:02 AM

In recent regional elections in eastern Germany, the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party and the anti-woke BSW party have emerged as significant winners, marking a shift in the political landscape. The elections, held in the states of Saxony and Thuringia, saw Chancellor Olaf Scholz's ruling coalition suffer a substantial defeat. Scholz's SPD received only 8.5% of the vote in Saxony, while the Greens garnered 5.5%, according to exit polls. The AfD, known for its eurosceptic and anti-immigration stance, is set to achieve its first state election victory since World War Two. This development reflects growing support for radical parties on both the right and left, driven by anti-immigration sentiment and opposition to military support for Ukraine. The results are a wake-up call for Germany's traditional parties, which have struggled to maintain their influence in the face of rising populism.