Germany: Chancellor Olaf Scholz expresses concern over far-right victory in regional elections
BERLIN – German Chancellor Olaf Scholz described the results of two regional elections that saw major wins for the far-right AfD as “bitter” and urged mainstream parties to form governments without “right-wing extremists.”
“The results for the AfD in Saxony and Thuringia are worrying,” Olaf Scholz said in a statement to Reuters.
“Our country cannot and must not get used to this. The AfD is damaging Germany. It is weakening the economy, dividing society, and ruining our country’s reputation.”
In Thuringia, the Alternative for Germany was on course for 33.5% of the vote compared to 23.4% in 2019, followed by the conservatives on 24.5%, up from 21.7%. Upstart populist party, the Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance, or BSW, came in third place on 14.5%, according to an exit poll by broadcaster ZDF.
Consequently, the Alternative for Germany (AfD) became the first far-right party to win a state legislature election in Germany since World War II.
In Saxony, the Christian Democrats (CDU), who have governed it since reunification more than 30 years ago, secured 32% of the votes, coming slightly ahead of the AfD, who reached 31.5% in the ZDF exit poll, up from 27.5% in 2019.
