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Ostbeauftragter Wanderwitz: "I was afraid that we would have to do more - even with younger people" (archive picture)
Photo: CLEMENS BILAN / EPA-EFE
The Federal Government's Eastern Commissioner, Marco Wanderwitz (CDU), is positively surprised by the election result in Saxony-Anhalt.
Wanderwitz described the result on RTL / ntv as "outstanding".
With a view to the AfD, Wanderwitz said: "On the other hand, of course, 20 percent of the voters of a right-wing extremist party are still a problem." You now have to do a "good problem analysis."
"I'm a bit more optimistic, no doubt, but the task is still big," Wanderwitz told the broadcasters.
In relation to the editorial network Germany (RND), Wanderwitz suggested a stronger political education of the young voters.
"I was afraid that we would have to do more - even with younger people," said the Eastern Representative.
The AfD emerged from the state elections as the second strongest force with around 21 percent.
According to election analyzes, the AfD scored particularly well with the youngest voters.
Before the election and in view of the strong polls for the AfD, Wanderwitz had caused a controversy with a statement on the voting behavior of East Germans.
He said that he saw people in East Germany have a greater tendency to vote for right-wing extremist parties than in the West.
"We are dealing with people who are partly socialized by dictatorship in such a way that they have not reached democracy even after thirty years." He had thus also triggered opposition in his own party.
"Certain things are passed on from generation to generation," Wanderwitz said to the RND.
It is about calling for a basic democratic attitude.
The CDU, which became the strongest force in Saxony-Anhalt, must now tackle the most important social issues and explain possible solutions in a comprehensible manner.
Wanderwitz added in the context, according to RTL / ntv, that "theoretically" everyone could change: "There are also dropout programs for right-wing extremists that lead some to their goal."
However, the CDU politician sticks to his previous statement that a “not inconsiderable part of the AfD voters” is “permanently lost to democracy”.
He believes “that some of these voters are difficult to get back for democracy.
With some you can, we've seen that over the weekend. "
fek / dpa