Mainstream politicians express alarm while lead candidate in Saxony-Anhalt welcomes congratulations from Elon Musk

Mainstream politicians express alarm while lead candidate in Saxony-Anhalt welcomes congratulations from Elon Musk

Mainstream politicians around Europe have expressed alarm after the far-right Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) swept to a historic state election victory in Germany, while nationalist figures cheered the result as a mandate for change.

While falling just short of an absolute majority, the AfD surged into first place in the Saxony-Anhalt state election on Sunday, exit polls ⁠showed, putting the far right within reach ​of power at ‌the state level for ‌the first time since the second world war.

  • Kiwi_fella@lemmy.worldEnglish
    1·
    4 hours ago

    I’m interested in your statement about this state being one of a couple that always vote right wing. “Nothing new” is how you ended that bit. The way it comes across in the media and commentary is that this is quite a significant thing, so I’m wondering if this is actually worrying or media hype? Thoughts? I’ve also heard that AfD is polling well across Germany in general, so is this taken into account in the media and your statement?

    Because we are internet strangers, I just want you to know I’m actually interested in what you said and your opinion, with no intent of attacking you.

    • SkaveRat@discuss.tchncs.deEnglish
      1·
      4 hours ago

      I mean, it is quite significant and quite worrying, just not something extremely surprising

      For the party, it is their biggest result by far, as basically every second voter voted for them. Most of the gain comes from voters who voted for the right-wing CDU before, just not extreme-right like the afd

      The biggest worry is what they will try to do on a state level and how other parties try to shift their policies to appease more towards the afd voters. Especially CDU has drifted more and more right over the last couple years in the hopes of getting back afd-voters, but they just ended up legitimizing the talking points that the afd has.

      “luckily” the results are such a clusterfuck, that they can’t create any meaningful coalition, which limits their power a bit. But also creates the potential to whine loudly about how mean everyone else is, and steer more voters to the party on a national level

      also, yes. the party is gaining more and more popularity nation-wide. it’s… a shitshow.

      but tbh, my biggest worry is the absolute clown of a bundeskanzler we have, who is trying his best to compete with the other world leaders in his pure incompetence and idiocy

      other than that, rewboss did a great video about the election, and what it means:

      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aggmXyY3Se0