From the Eastern heartland, election trends paint a new picture
Deep in the heart of Germany, the upcoming state elections in Saxony and Thuringia are shaping up to be a compelling spectacle, as revealed by a poll conducted by RTL/ntv. Here's the lowdown on the shifting sands of political allegiance!
In Saxony, a close fight takes place between the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and the Alternative for Germany (AfD). The latest Forsa poll sees the CDU holding steady at 33%, while the AfD experiences a slight increase to 31%.
On the other hand, in Thuringia, the AfD maintains its iron grip, standing tall at 30%. The CDU, conversely, experiences a slight growth, now at 22%. The Alliance for Progress and Social Justice (BSW), meanwhile, undergoes a drop in Thuringia, falling to 17%. The Left Party, however, sees a slight increase of 1 point, now sitting comfortably at 14%. The Social Democrats (SPD) hold steady at 7%, while the Greens remain steady at 4%, just shy of securing a seat in the state parliament.
The European Union watches with concern as the AfD's rise continues in Thuringia elections. Despite the slight growth of the CDU in Saxony, the tightly contested race between the CDU and AfD in this state has sparked questions within the EU about Germany's political direction.
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- The AfD has shown a steady hold in eastern Germany, particularly in Saxony and Thuringia, and has become the dominant force in all five eastern German states.
- The CDU, while still a major competitor, has faced internal strife and a loss of support. The party's leadership under Friedrich Merz has taken a more right-leaning stance, with a focus on deregulation and border control, which may not resonate as strongly with eastern German voters.
- The snap election, prompted by the collapse of the governing coalition, has led to a significant shift in the political landscape, with the AfD benefiting from widespread disillusionment and its successful portrayal of migration as a security threat. High voter turnout, driven by social polarization, has bolstered the AfD's position.
