German Chancellor Olaf Scholz described the results of two regional elections in Thuringia and Saxony as “bitter” after the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) scored big wins. The AfD, considered “right-wing extremist” by security officials, is unlikely to be able to govern as other parties have refused to collaborate with them. Still, the party could have enough seats to block decisions requiring a two-thirds majority, giving them significant power. Scholz expressed concern over the damaging impact of the AfD on Germany’s economy and society.
The election results also punished Scholz’s coalition, with all three ruling parties losing votes. The populist leftist newcomer, the Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance, performed well in its first state elections, coming in third place. The Greens and Free Democrats fell out of the Thuringia state assembly, adding pressure on the government to address immigration and intensify the debate over support for Ukraine. Scholz emphasized that the Social Democrats had managed to stay above the 5% threshold needed to remain in the two states’ parliaments, avoiding more dire predictions.
The results could lead to increased infighting within the coalition and may push mainstream parties to form governments without the AfD. As Germany approaches a national election in a year, the implications of these regional results will likely shape the political landscape and policy debates in the months to come.
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