The euphoria of German Chancellor Olaf Scholz's Social Democrats (SPD) over their victory in regional elections over the far-right faded yesterday when it became clear that they would need the help of a pro-Russian populist party to rule.
The SPD won first place in its traditional stronghold of Brandenburg, with 31 percent of the vote thanks to a tactical vote against the far-right, Reuters reported.
However, his victory did not mask the continued rise in support for populist parties on both sides of the political spectrum that threatens political stability in Europe's largest economy.
The ultra-right, with which other parties refuse to form a coalition, won a record 29 percent boosted by youth votes, while the three main parties with which the SPD would traditionally consider a coalition fared poorly.
Sara Vagenkneht's left-wing alliance (BSW) came in third just nine months after its founding and has become a key factor, an awkward reality for the SPD, given that BSW demands any partner to support urgent peace talks on Ukraine and oppose the installation of American long-range weapons in Germany.
The victory of the Social Democrats in Brandenburg did not mask the continued rise in support for populist parties that threatens political stability in Germany
Both the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) and the BSW, both anti-NATO and pro-Russia, and anti-migration, fuel and exploit concerns about the cost-of-living crisis, irregular immigration and the belief that Germany sending arms to Ukraine is prolonging a war that Russia started .
Reuters states that most of these topics, especially the issue of support for Ukraine, are federal affairs that are far beyond the jurisdiction of regional governments.
"Political stability will not be easy to achieve," said current SPD Prime Minister Ditmar Vojdke.
The Greens and the liberal FDP did not pass the five percent threshold necessary to enter parliament, while the conservatives fell to fourth place with only 11,4 percent. A coalition of SPD and conservatives would have one mandate less than the required majority in the regional parliament.
"This confirms a trend from two earlier elections this month, where the political center, at least in eastern Germany, can no longer form a government without the help of radical forces from the left and right," consultancy firm Eurasia Group said in a note, adding that it would strengthen power both extremes to determine the agenda.
The BSW is also expected to play a key role in two other eastern provinces where the traditional parties will almost certainly need their votes to govern if they remain non-cooperative with the AfD.
According to Reuters, Solz will only get a short break from the debate within the SPD about whether he is the right person to lead the party in next year's federal elections. Critics say he is an indecisive leader and a clumsy communicator.
According to an exit poll by public broadcaster ARD, three-quarters of SPD voters in Brandenburg were not motivated by conviction but wanted to reject the AfD. The turnout was a record 72,9 percent.
This confirms the trend that the political center, at least in the east of Germany, can no longer form a government without the help of radical forces from the left and right.
Reuters writes that during the campaign, Vojdke kept his distance from Scholz, the most unpopular German chancellor, and criticized the federal coalition's policy and constant bickering.
Polls show that support for the SPD at the national level is 15 percent, down from 25,7 percent in the 2021 elections. The AfD has around 20 percent support, and the opposition conservatives 32 percent.
The mayor of Munich, Germany's third-largest city, is among SPD politicians who have suggested they should consider nominating popular defense minister Boris Pistorius, 64, as the party's candidate in the 2025 election.
However, Solac (66), who has already announced his intention to run for a second term, is not expected to retire.
However, it will not be any easier for Scholz considering the weak result of his coalition partners, the Greens and the Free Democrats, according to Reuters, with the assessment that this could further fuel tensions in Berlin.
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