Almost 3.3 million Saxons can vote for the Bundestag

Saxons are once again spoiled for choice. But the early federal election is also being watched with particular excitement in the Free State. For the first time, the parties have had to run a winter election campaign. In Saxony, people are also keeping an eye on voter turnout, as the ballot falls in the middle of the winter vacations. In the last federal election, 76.5 percent of eligible voters took part. Nationwide, the figure was 76.4 percent.

Almost 3.3 million eligible voters in Saxony

In the Free State, almost 3.3 million eligible voters will be able to have their say on the composition of the new Bundestag from 8.00 am. 19 parties submitted their state lists for the election by the deadline in January, including all seven parties represented in the Bundestag. 15 state lists were approved by the state election committee. The polling stations close at 6 pm. Due to the winter vacations, a high proportion of postal voters were expected.

Last time the AfD was ahead

In the two previous Bundestag elections, the AfD was twice ahead in Saxony. In 2017, it was just ahead of the CDU (26.9%) with 27.0%. In 2021, the difference was more pronounced. The AfD came in at 24.6%, while the CDU only achieved 17.2%, putting it behind the SPD (19.3%). They were followed by the FDP (11.0), the Left (9.3) and the Greens (8.6). The AfD won direct mandates in ten of the 16 constituencies. Only in the major cities did the CDU, SPD and the Left Party score points with the first votes.

Not all winners of direct mandates are elected

Because of the electoral law reform, which is now taking effect for the first time, not all winning constituency direct candidates will automatically enter the Bundestag: they will only receive a mandate if their party receives enough second votes, otherwise the constituency will be left empty-handed. In return, the previously usual overhang and compensatory mandates will no longer apply. In future, the Bundestag will have 630 MPs instead of the current 733 - including 38 from Saxony.

Some constituencies are particularly in focus

Some of the 16 constituencies are particularly in focus. Constituency 152 in Leipzig is considered a kind of life insurance for the left. Sören Pellmann won a direct mandate here in 2021 and, together with two Linke politicians in Berlin, ensured the party's re-entry into the Bundestag in the first place. Without the three basic mandates, the Left Party would have failed at the five percent hurdle.

Federal AfD leader Tino Chrupalla is the favorite in the Görlitz constituency

Federal AfD leader Tino Chrupalla is the favorite in constituency 156. He had already won the direct mandate in Görlitz from the current CDU Minister President Michael Kretschmer in 2017 and defended it in 2021. A neck-and-neck race between the CDU and AfD is expected in the two Dresden constituencies. The AfD also believes it has a chance of winning a direct mandate in Chemnitz, which was won by SPD politician Detlef Müller in 2021. Its honorary chairman Alexander Gauland is now entering the race for the AfD.