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Right-wing German party secures ‘historic’ win | Right-wing German party secures ‘historic’ win |
(about 4 hours later) | |
An AfD candidate has been elected as town mayor for the first time | An AfD candidate has been elected as town mayor for the first time |
The right-wing Alternative for Germany (AfD) party has won a mayoral election for the first time, making history in the Saxon town of Pirna. The victory comes less than two weeks after regional authorities designated the AfD as “extremist.” | |
The AfD has enjoyed rising support among German voters in recent months, at a time when the approval ratings of all three parties in the country’s ruling ‘traffic light’ coalition have hit record lows. | The AfD has enjoyed rising support among German voters in recent months, at a time when the approval ratings of all three parties in the country’s ruling ‘traffic light’ coalition have hit record lows. |
Tim Lochner, who represented the AfD, garnered 38.5% of the vote in the second round of voting on Sunday, ahead of Christian Democratic Union (CDU) contender Kathrin Dollinger-Knuth on 31.4%. | |
The AfD candidate had won 33% of the vote in the first round of polling on November 26, although none of the five candidates secured the absolute majority necessary to win outright, sending the vote to a second stage. | The AfD candidate had won 33% of the vote in the first round of polling on November 26, although none of the five candidates secured the absolute majority necessary to win outright, sending the vote to a second stage. |
Two of the original contenders exited the race before the second round and urged their supporters to vote for Dollinger-Knuth. The Green and Left parties also backed her in the December vote, although their support proved insufficient to propel the CDU into first place. | Two of the original contenders exited the race before the second round and urged their supporters to vote for Dollinger-Knuth. The Green and Left parties also backed her in the December vote, although their support proved insufficient to propel the CDU into first place. |
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), AfD co-leader Alice Weidel described Lochner’s victory as “historic.” | In a post on X (formerly Twitter), AfD co-leader Alice Weidel described Lochner’s victory as “historic.” |
Free Voters party candidate Ralf Thiele, who came in third with 30.1%, said there is a “countrywide trend” that shows the AfD is “becoming stronger.” | Free Voters party candidate Ralf Thiele, who came in third with 30.1%, said there is a “countrywide trend” that shows the AfD is “becoming stronger.” |
The Green party branch in Saxony said it was “dismayed” by the election outcome in Pirna, while the Left party called on “all democratic parties” to unite against the AfD. | The Green party branch in Saxony said it was “dismayed” by the election outcome in Pirna, while the Left party called on “all democratic parties” to unite against the AfD. |
Earlier this month, the president of the Saxon branch of the Office for the Protection of the Constitution (BfV), Dirk-Martin Christian, announced that the AfD had officially been deemed extremist over its “anti-constitutional agenda.” | Earlier this month, the president of the Saxon branch of the Office for the Protection of the Constitution (BfV), Dirk-Martin Christian, announced that the AfD had officially been deemed extremist over its “anti-constitutional agenda.” |
The new legal status allows the BfV to deploy surveillance and intelligence means to gather information about the right-wing party’s activities without restriction. | The new legal status allows the BfV to deploy surveillance and intelligence means to gather information about the right-wing party’s activities without restriction. |
Saxony became the third German region to take action against the AfD, after Thuringia and Sachsen-Anhalt. | Saxony became the third German region to take action against the AfD, after Thuringia and Sachsen-Anhalt. |
The party previously garnered 27.5% of the vote in the last regional election in Saxony in 2019. | The party previously garnered 27.5% of the vote in the last regional election in Saxony in 2019. |
In October, the AfD recorded its best-ever performance in a western German state, receiving 18.4% of the vote in the Hesse regional election. | In October, the AfD recorded its best-ever performance in a western German state, receiving 18.4% of the vote in the Hesse regional election. |
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