Sunday, September 1, 2019

Today's Election in Germany

I should point this out....both states are in the east of the country.  Results of today's two German state elections:

1.  Saxony:

CDU: 32 percent (right of center)
SPD: 8 percent (left of center)
Linke Party: 10.5 percent (former communist party)
AfD: 27.5 percent (because of a paperwork screw-up on candidates from months ago, they are limited to 30 seats) (anti-immigration agenda)
Green Party: 9 percent
FDP: 4.8 percent (they needed five-percent to get over the hump,it means they get no seats) (pro-business, less-taxation agenda)

2.  Brandenburg:

CDU: 15.5 percent
SPD: 27.5 percent
Linke Party: 11 percent
AfD: 22.5 percent
Green Party: 10 percent
FDP: 4.8 percent (it means they get no seats)

So what can you take away from this election?  I would offer three observations:

1. A fair amount of loss for the Linke Party, SPD, and CDU parties from five years ago (last state election). 

2.  The AfD did well....not fantastic, but enough to say that their peak is not yet reached.  If this Saxony paperwork screw-up hadn't occurred....they would have another five to seven seats in the assembly.  In Saxony, the AfD came fairly close to winning, and this probably will worry the CDU folks a good bit. 

3. Two-thirds of registered voters showed up in both states. 

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