Day: September 1, 2024

Projected election results in the German state of Thuringia would put the far – right Alternative for Germany ( AfD ) in first place with between 31 . 2 % and 33 . 2 % of the vote . The projections from public broadcasters ARD and ZDF , which are based on exit polls and initial election results , were released at about 7 pm ( 1700 GMT ) on Sunday evening . The centre – right Christian Democrats ( CDU ) are projected to finish in second place with between 23 . 9 % and 24 . 5 % of the vote . The CDU , however , looks likely to lead coalition talks in Thuringia as most political parties have vowed never to work with the AfD . The newly launched populist Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance ( BSW ) is forecast to finish in third place with 15 . 4 % to 15 . 7 % of the vote . Incumbent Thuringia state Premier Bodo Ramelow ‘ s hard – left Die Linke ( The Left ) is forecast for 11 . 5 % to 12 . 4 % of the vote , a major decline from the party ‘ s victory in the 2019 elections when they led with 31 % of the vote . Germa
n Chancellor Olaf Scholz ‘ s centre – left Social Democrats ( SPD ) are projected to collect 6 . 1 % to 6 . 8 % of the vote . But Scholz ‘ s national coalition partners , the Greens and the pro – business liberal Free Democrats ( FDP ), are forecast to fall short of the 5 % threshold required to take seats in German elections . The Greens are forecast to finish with 3 . 8 % of the vote , while the FDP trail with just 1 . 2 %, according to ARD . dpa sk tre jed xxde bst era

Source: The Namibia News Agency

Voters in the eastern German states of Thuringia and Saxony are casting their ballots on Sunday in state parliamentary elections that could upend the balance of power in both states and reverberate nationwide . Polls ahead of Sunday ‘ s election had put the far – right Alternative for Germany ( AfD ) in the clear lead in Thuringia and narrowly trailing the centre – right Christian Democrats ( CDU ) in Saxony . The election results will decide the balance of power in the state parliaments in Thuringia and Saxony , which each hold considerable power over regional matters . Polls are set to close at 6 pm ( 1600 GMT ). Turnout in Sunday ‘ s elections has been running ahead of participation in the previous state parliamentary elections , held in 2019 . In the late afternoon , elections officials in Thuringia reported that 55 % of eligible voters had cast ballots , while 35 % of voters in Saxony had done so . Postal ballots , which are also expected to be up this year compared to 2019 , are not included in tho
se figures . Both states are in the former communist East Germany , where politics and voting patterns remain distinct more than three decades after reunification , and where outmigration and a lagging economy has helped fuel resentment . Saxony and Thuringia are relatively small – together , the states account for only about 7 % of Germany ‘ s population – but the surging popularity of extremists in the AfD there has drawn widespread attention across the country . Fiery far – right challenge draws headlines The leader of the AfD ‘ s state organization in Thuringia , the firebrand Bj ö rn H ö cke , has become a household name in the country because of his fiery attacks on immigration policy and his extremist rhetoric . He was twice convicted this year of knowingly quoting a banned Nazi slogan in speeches . Domestic intelligence agencies have labelled the AfD ‘ s state – level chapters in both Thuringia and Saxony as known far – right extremist groups , and H ö cke as an extremist . A breakthrough showing by
the AfD would stun the country , but is unlikely to bring the radical right – wing party to power in either state . No other political party outside of the extremist fringes has expressed any willingness to even consider working with the AfD . Tough coalition talks ? But the expected strong showings by the AfD could make cobbling together a functioning government difficult in either state . Another insurgent populist party , the self – described ” left – conservative ” newly launched Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance ( BSW ), has also been polling well . A miserable election for the three parties in German Chancellor Olaf Scholz ‘ s national coalition government , meanwhile , could further fuel bitter infighting among ministers with a year to go until nationwide parliamentary elections in September 2025 . Some polls have shown Scholz ‘ s centre – left Social Democrats ( SPD ) and main partner , the Greens , close to the 5 % threshold needed to take seats in German elections . The free – market liberal Free Democrats
( FDP ), meanwhile , have polled so poorly in the two eastern states that they have generally been lumped in with ” other ” in results . In Saxony , incumbent state Premier Michael Kretschmer ‘ s CDU have held a narrow lead in most polls . Kretschmer hopes to have the first crack at remaining in office at the head of a new government , though the results may require his CDU to consider some unexpected allies . Kretschmer expressed confidence when casting his vote on Sunday morning in Dresden , the state capital : ” We are here in Saxony , we will not be meddled with . We are going our own Saxon way .” The top SPD candidate , Petra K ö pping , was less confident , saying she has a ” queasy feeling . Now the voters have to decide .” In Thuringia , forming a new government may be particularly difficult . Bodo Ramelow of the hard – left Die Linke ( The Left ) has been leading a fragile minority government . Ramelow remains personally popular with many voters in Thuringia , but Die Linke has fallen in the pol
ls after Wagenknecht bolted the party to form the BSW . The split , combined with increased support for the AfD , has further fractured politics in the state . dpa bst era wjh cro era

Source: The Namibia News Agency

Initial projected election results in the eastern German state of Saxony show a neck – and – neck race between the centre – right Christian Democrats ( CDU ) and the far – right Alternative for Germany ( AfD ). The forecasts from public broadcasters ARD and ZDF , which are based on initial election results as well as exit polls , gave incumbent Saxon state Premier Michael Kretschmer ‘ s CDU only a very narrow edge over the AfD . The broadcasters released the projects about an hour after voting ended at 6 pm ( 1600 GMT ) on Sunday . The CDU is projected to get 31 . 6 % to 31 . 7 %, while the AfD is forecast slightly behind with between 30 . 4 % and 31 . 4 %. The upstart populist Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance ( BSW ) was projected to finish in third place with 11 . 4 % to 12 . 0 % of the vote . The centre – left Social Democrats ( SPD ), who are currently the junior partner in a coalition with Kretschmer ‘ s CDU , are forecast to finish fourth with 7 . 8 % to 8 . 2 % of the vote . The Greens are forecast to
collect 5 . 3 % to 5 . 5 %, barely over the 5 % threshold required to receive seats in German elections . The hard – left Die Linke ( The Left ) is forecast to fall short of the 5 % mark with just 4 . 0 % to 4 . 3 %, while the pro – business liberal Free Democrats ( FDP ) appeared to score so poorly that they are not included in the projections . dpa sk tre vrb xxde bst era

Source: The Namibia News Agency

Voters in the eastern German states of Thuringia and Saxony are casting their ballots on Sunday in state parliamentary elections that could upend the balance of power in both states and reverberate nationwide . Polls ahead of Sunday ‘ s election had put the far – right Alternative for Germany ( AfD ) in the clear lead in Thuringia and narrowly trailing the centre – right Christian Democrats ( CDU ) in Saxony . The election results will decide the balance of power in the state parliaments in Thuringia and Saxony , which each hold considerable power over regional matters . Voter turnout in Saxony appeared strong as of midday on Sunday , while turnout in Thuringia was in line with the most recent state parliamentary elections in 2019 . Both states are in the former communist East Germany , where politics and voting patterns remain distinct more than three decades after reunification , and where outmigration and a lagging economy has helped fuel resentment . Saxony and Thuringia are relatively small – togeth
er , the states account for only about 7 % of Germany ‘ s population – but the surging popularity of extremists in the AfD there has drawn widespread attention across the country . Fiery far – right challenge draws headlines The leader of the AfD ‘ s state organization in Thuringia , the firebrand Bj ö rn H ö cke , has become a household name in the country because of his fiery attacks on immigration policy and his extremist rhetoric . He was twice convicted this year of knowingly quoting a banned Nazi slogan in speeches . Domestic intelligence agencies have labelled the AfD ‘ s state – level chapters in both Thuringia and Saxony as known far – right extremist groups , and H ö cke as an extremist . A breakthrough showing by the AfD would stun the country , but is unlikely to bring the radical right – wing party to power in either state . No other political party outside of the extremist fringes has expressed any willingness to even consider working with the AfD . Tough coalition talks ? But the expected str
ong showings by the AfD could make cobbling together a functioning government difficult in either state . Another insurgent populist party , the self – described ” left – conservative ” newly launched Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance ( BSW ), has also been polling well . A miserable election for the three parties in German Chancellor Olaf Scholz ‘ s national coalition government , meanwhile , could further fuel bitter infighting among ministers with a year to go until nationwide parliamentary elections in September 2025 . Some polls have shown Scholz ‘ s centre – left Social Democrats ( SPD ) and main partner , the Greens , close to the 5 % threshold needed to take seats in German elections . The free – market liberal Free Democrats ( FDP ), meanwhile , have polled so poorly in the two eastern states that they have generally been lumped in with ” other ” in results . In Saxony , incumbent state Premier Michael Kretschmer ‘ s CDU have held a narrow lead in most polls . Kretschmer hopes to have the first crack at
remaining in office at the head of a new government , though the results may require his CDU to consider some unexpected allies . Kretschmer expressed confidence when casting his vote on Sunday morning in Dresden , the state capital : ” We are here in Saxony , we will not be meddled with . We are going our own Saxon way .” The top SPD candidate , Petra K ö pping , was less confident , saying she has a ” queasy feeling . Now the voters have to decide .” In Thuringia , forming a new government may be particularly difficult . Bodo Ramelow of the hard – left Die Linke ( The Left ) has been leading a fragile minority government . Ramelow remains personally popular with many voters in Thuringia , but Die Linke has fallen in the polls after Wagenknecht bolted the party to form the BSW . The split , combined with increased support for the AfD , has further fractured politics in the state . dpa bst era wjh cro era

Source: The Namibia News Agency

The general secretary of Germany ‘ s centre – left Social Democrats ( SPD ), Kevin K hnert , acknowledged his party ‘ s mediocre expected performance in a pair of state parliamentary elections on Sunday . It was ” not an evening to celebrate for the SPD ,” K hnert said on television shortly after exit polls projected the party to finish in the single digits in the states of Saxony and Thuringia . At the same time , K hnert noted that the SPD – the party of current German Chancellor Olaf Scholz – has struggled for years in both states , which are located in the former communist East Germany . ” There was a real danger of being thrown out of the state parliaments ,” said K hnert , referring to polls which put the SPD near the 5 % threshold needed to take seats in German elections . ” It ‘ s worth fighting , we are needed ,” he said . ” We have to fight to regain more strength .” dpa hrz jed xxde bst cro

Source: The Namibia News Agency

Voters in the eastern German states of Thuringia and Saxony are casting their ballots on Sunday in state parliamentary elections that could upend the balance of power in both states and reverberate nationwide . Polls ahead of Sunday ‘ s election had put the far – right Alternative for Germany ( AfD ) in the clear lead in Thuringia and narrowly trailing the centre – right Christian Democrats ( CDU ) in Saxony . The election results will decide the balance of power in the state parliaments in Thuringia and Saxony , which each hold considerable power over regional matters . Voter turnout in Saxony appeared strong as of midday on Sunday , while turnout in Thuringia was in line with the most recent state parliamentary elections in 2019 . Both states are in the former communist East Germany , where politics and voting patterns remain distinct more than three decades after reunification , and where outmigration and a lagging economy has helped fuel resentment . Saxony and Thuringia are relatively small – togeth
er , the states account for only about 7 % of Germany ‘ s population – but the surging popularity of extremists in the AfD there has drawn widespread attention across the country . Fiery far – right challenge draws headlines The leader of the AfD ‘ s state organization in Thuringia , the firebrand Bj ö rn H ö cke , has become a household name in the country because of his fiery attacks on immigration policy and his extremist rhetoric . He was twice convicted this year of knowingly quoting a banned Nazi slogan in speeches . Domestic intelligence agencies have labelled the AfD ‘ s state – level chapters in both Thuringia and Saxony as known far – right extremist groups , and H ö cke as an extremist . A breakthrough showing by the AfD would stun the country , but is unlikely to bring the radical right – wing party to power in either state . No other political party outside of the extremist fringes has expressed any willingness to even consider working with the AfD . Tough coalition talks ? But the expected str
ong showings by the AfD could make cobbling together a functioning government difficult in either state . Another insurgent populist party , the self – described ” left – conservative ” newly launched Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance ( BSW ), has also been polling well . A miserable election for the three parties in German Chancellor Olaf Scholz ‘ s national coalition government , meanwhile , could further fuel bitter infighting among ministers with a year to go until nationwide parliamentary elections in September 2025 . Some polls have shown Scholz ‘ s centre – left Social Democrats ( SPD ) and main partner , the Greens , close to the 5 % threshold needed to take seats in German elections . The free – market liberal Free Democrats ( FDP ), meanwhile , have polled so poorly in the two eastern states that they have generally been lumped in with ” other ” in results . In Saxony , incumbent state Premier Michael Kretschmer ‘ s CDU have held a narrow lead in most polls . Kretschmer hopes to have the first crack at
remaining in office at the head of a new government , though the results may require his CDU to consider some unexpected allies . Kretschmer expressed confidence when casting his vote on Sunday morning in Dresden , the state capital : ” We are here in Saxony , we will not be meddled with . We are going our own Saxon way .” The top SPD candidate , Petra K ö pping , was less confident , saying she has a ” queasy feeling . Now the voters have to decide .” In Thuringia , forming a new government may be particularly difficult . Bodo Ramelow of the hard – left Die Linke ( The Left ) has been leading a fragile minority government . Ramelow remains personally popular with many voters in Thuringia , but Die Linke has fallen in the polls after Wagenknecht bolted the party to form the BSW . The split , combined with increased support for the AfD , has further fractured politics in the state . dpa bst era wjh cro era

Source: The Namibia News Agency