Municipal elections in Thuringia: AfD gains ground

In Thuringia, a political shift seems to be looming after the local elections. The Alternative for Germany (AfD) is solidifying its position in regional assemblies. Oliver Lembcke, a political expert from Bochum, commented on the results saying that it may become increasingly difficult to marginalize the party. As a consequence, the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) may increasingly question the concept of a cordon sanitaire. In the elections last Sunday, numerous local leadership positions were newly filled, including 13 district administrators as well as mayors and lord mayors. The AfD did not win a direct victory in the district administrator elections, but their presence in the district councils could become stronger. Michael Brychcy, President of the Thuringian Association of Municipalities and Cities, reinforced this view. He remarked that it is not realistic to maintain a strict dividing line with elected AfD representatives. One factor in this dynamic is the CDU's incompatibility resolution against the AfD and the Left Party. The elections did not bring a first-round victory for the AfD, although the right-wing extremist faction led by Björn Höcke still has chances in upcoming run-off elections. Especially in the Altenburger Land and the Hildburghausen district, there are opportunities for the party. The latter even managed to promote a neo-Nazi into the decisive election round. According to initial counts, the AfD could become the strongest party in eight out of 17 district councils, as well as in the city council of Gera. Any possible shifts in the final results remain to be seen, as counting in some areas has not yet been completed. The overall trends of the elections so far have shown almost constant support for the CDU compared to 2019, while The Left, SPD, and the Greens suffered losses. The AfD was able to significantly improve its results. Lembcke predicts that the AfD could gain influence in municipalities and bring its issues more strongly into political discourse. Höcke himself had set high goals, aiming for the position of strongest force in order to achieve success on the state level as well. However, the party is struggling with image problems on the federal level, after several of its members were involved in scandals. Maximilian Krah and Petr Bystron, for example, were the focus of public attention due to questionable statements and investigations.