Despite the mobilization of all political forces to prevent a precedent-setting electoral achievement for the right-wing nationalist-populist Alternative for Germany, the party's candidate won the election for the representative of Germany's smallest electoral district in the second round of voting on Sunday.
The "alternative" candidate, lawyer Robert Zasselman, received about 53% of the vote, beating the candidate of the conservative Christian Democratic Party. The latter also received the support of left-wing parties and workers' committees, which formed a united front to deny the Alternative Party the position of Landrat in the Schöneberg constituency of Thuringia.
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Thuringia is considered a stronghold of the ultra-nationalist faction in the Alternative for Germany party. The party's branch in Thuringia and its leader are defined by the German Federal Constitutional Protection Agency as far right.
In recent weeks, in light of Germany's worsening economic and political crisis, the popularity of the Alternative for Germany party has risen significantly, and according to recent polls, it has doubled its strength since the last general election in 2021, and if general elections were held today, it would become the second largest party, ahead of or alongside the ruling Social Democratic Party.
A poll published today by Bild newspaper found that 15% of all Germans, or a seventh of Germany's population, are considering leaving their country if a chancellor is elected on behalf of the Alternative party. The head of the party announced last week that the "alternative" intends to present a candidate on her behalf for chancellor in the next elections. Only the head of the largest party after every election has been elected to this position.
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