German Chancellor Olaf Scholz expressed disappointment in the results of two regional elections in Thuringia and Saxony, where the far-right AfD saw significant gains. Despite the AfD being deemed “right-wing extremist”, it could hold enough seats to block important decisions in both states. Scholz urged mainstream parties to form governments without the AfD. The results punished Scholz’s coalition, with all three ruling parties losing votes. The populist leftist BSW party, founded by a former member of the East German Communist Party, performed well in its first state elections, coming in third place. The Greens and Free Democrats both fell out of the Thuringia state assembly. The results could lead to a tougher stance on immigration and intensify the debate over support for Ukraine. Scholz emphasized that the AfD is damaging Germany and called on the country not to get used to extremist parties. The results have the potential to aggravate infighting within the coalition with a year to go until the national election. Despite the disappointing outcome, Scholz noted that the SPD did not fall out of a state parliament for the first time, as some had feared. The elections highlight the growing influence of far-right parties in German politics and could shape the political landscape leading up to the national election.
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Olaf Scholz expresses concern following far-right party victories
