The German right-wing party Alternative for Germany (AfD) has won the elections in Thuringia, taking 32 of the 88 seats in the local parliament (Landtag), according to official results published by the local electoral commission. The AfD thus gains ten more seats than before.
The Christian Democratic Union (CDU) is in second place with 23 seats (+2). In third place is the newly formed party “Sarah Wagenknecht’s Union for Reason and Justice” (SSV) with 15 seats in the Landtag.
In addition, two more parties entered the local parliament: the “Left” with 12 seats (-17) and the Chancellor’s Social Democrats. Olaf Scholz with 6 seats (-2).
Two parties in the federal governing coalition, the Greens and the Free Liberals (FDP), did not make it into the Landtag.
Voter turnout in the elections was 73.6%.
This is the AfD’s first victory in regional elections in Germany.
Last year, the party’s popularity ratings began to rise sharply, reaching a high of 23 percent. These figures are often explained by the economic problems in Germany caused by high energy prices. At the same time, already at the end of 2023, the party found itself at the center of scandals, one of which was related to the participation of its representatives in a conference of far-right forces, where the mass expulsion of migrants from the country was allegedly discussed. In addition, individual AfD members are suspected of having ties to Russia and China.
