The residents of the eastern German state of Thuringia have voted massively for radical parties in regional elections. According to preliminary results, the radical left party Die Linke is set to become the largest party with around 30 percent of the vote. The radical right-wing party AfD is expected to more than double its vote count, reaching just over 22 percent of the votes.
The anti-immigration party AfD narrowly surpasses Chancellor Angela Merkel's CDU. The German Christian Democrats lose more than ten percent, stagnating at a historically low score for Thuringia of 22 percent.
According to projections, the Social Democratic SPD also drops to a new low: 8.0 percent. Die GrĂĽnen and the liberal FDP hover near the five percent electoral threshold.
With these results, state premier Bodo Ramelow from Die Linke can once again take the initiative to form a new coalition. Voter turnout was significantly higher, at about 65 percent, compared to five years ago (52.7). Nationally, the preliminary results represent a new setback for Chancellor Angela Merkel's "grand coalition" (CDU/CSU and SPD) in Berlin.
Ramelow expressed satisfaction with the appreciation for his policies and the large turnout at the polls. “I see this as a clear confirmation. The mandate to govern has unequivocally come to my party. I will accept that mandate.” Because so far no other party is willing to partner with the AfD, forming a new majority for Die Linke seems to be a difficult task. According to the current results, a continuation of the existing coalition between Die Linke, Die Grünen, and SPD will not be possible. Voices within the CDU are now calling for a coalition with Die Linke.
AfD chairman Jörg Meuthen sees the result as proof that his party is increasingly accepted by the average citizen. He pointed to the decline of former popular parties, including in Thuringia, and to the AfD’s promotion to the established order.