On Sunday, 1.7 million Thuringians participated in local elections, with results indicating possible implications for the upcoming state elections on September 1. Run-off elections with AfD participation are expected in several regions, giving them a chance to win top municipal offices in the Free State.
The CDU aims for victory in the state elections based on preliminary successes in mayoral elections in various cities. The Left Party, led by Prime Minister Bodo Ramelow, did not secure a significant victory on Sunday. AfD’s popularity saw a decline following controversies involving their top European candidates.
However, the SPD, Greens, and FDP face challenges due to structural weaknesses. The SPD lost votes across the state, with their mayoral candidate in Erfurt suffering a defeat. The Greens are concerned about crossing the five percent hurdle in the state elections, despite above-average results in some cities. The FDP also struggles to overcome the five percent hurdle and faced similar challenges as they did during the local elections.
In the upcoming state elections in Thuringia, potential shifts in the political landscape could be seen as various parties face challenges in maintaining their positions within a coalition government. The local elections served as a reflection of voter sentiments and provided insights into possible outcomes in the upcoming state elections.
