Upcoming Elections in Eastern Germany: A Test for the Far-Right

Upcoming Elections in Eastern Germany

On Sunday, voters in the eastern German states of Saxony and Thuringia will head to the polls in elections that are garnering significant attention not only in Berlin but also across Europe. These elections are particularly noteworthy because the far-right Alternative for Germany party (AfD) is expected to perform strongly in one or both of these contests.

The two states, which were under Communist rule until the reunification of Germany in 1990, will be selecting representatives for their state parliaments and ultimately determining the composition of their state governments. While the electorate in these two states constitutes only about 7 percent of Germany’s total voting population, the implications of the outcomes are profound. This election is a litmus test for the growing influence of anti-immigrant and nationalist sentiments in the region.

In addition to the AfD’s anticipated success, there is also the emergence of a new left-wing party known as the Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance, named after its leader, who is a former member of the Communist Party. This party, which was founded earlier this year, is expected to surpass many mainstream political parties, likely finishing in third place in both state elections. The rise of this party signals a potential shift in the political landscape of eastern Germany.

The results of these elections are poised to serve as a strong indication of the East’s growing discontent with the federal government in Berlin. There is a possibility that one or more of the parties currently comprising Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s three-party governing coalition could be ousted from their positions in the state houses of Saxony and Thuringia, particularly if they fail to clear the 5 percent threshold required to maintain parliamentary representation.

The anticipated outcomes will present a significant dilemma for mainstream political parties: they must decide whether to take all necessary measures to prevent the AfD from establishing a state government—which could further alienate voters who feel disregarded—or to consider collaborating with the far-right party in an attempt to moderate its influence.

Significance of the Elections

Despite the fact that these elections are focused on state governance—Saxony and Thuringia being the seventh and twelfth largest states by population in Germany—the symbolic weight of a far-right party potentially achieving a plurality of votes is monumental. This situation emerges nearly eight decades after the fall of the Nazi regime, highlighting the complexities and challenges that modern German democracy faces.