CDU ahead of AfD in Saxony - cheers at BSW

Jubilation among the CDU, AfD and BSW, silence among the left, relief among the SPD: according to the projections for the state election in Saxony, the CDU is currently just ahead of the AfD. Despite slight losses compared to the last election, Prime Minister Michael Kretschmer's CDU/CSU is narrowly holding on to the lead and the race between the CDU and AfD is close. However, the mood within the party is tense, as the AfD is making strong gains. Will it be enough to continue the previous black-green-red Kenya coalition? The parties had ruled out cooperation with the AfD.

The new Sahra Wagenknecht (BSW) alliance is in third place from a standing start, followed by the SPD, which is well behind. The Greens have to tremble for a place in the state parliament, while the Left Party failed to clear the five percent hurdle and may therefore be eliminated from parliament.

CDU just ahead of AfD

The CDU was just ahead of the AfD in both projections, with Infratest Dimap (ARD) and Forschungsgruppe Wahlen (ZDF) both putting the party around one percentage point ahead. According to this, the CDU is polling between 31.5 and 31.8 percent. The AfD is at 30.4 to 30.8 percent.

Triumphant mood at AfD

When Minister President Michael Kretschmer turned up at the CDU party after the first projections, he was greeted like a pop star. "It's not going to be easy," Kretschmer admitted. "But one thing is certain: with many discussions and the will to do something for this country, we can use this election result to give Saxony a stable government that serves the country and moves forward with humility." The CDU is ready to take on further responsibility. For Minister of Culture Christian Piwarz, it is clear that many people in Saxony wanted Kretschmer to remain Prime Minister.

There was an almost triumphant mood in the camp of the AfD, which has been classified by Saxony's Office for the Protection of the Constitution as definitely right-wing extremist. AfD leader Jörg Urban said they were hoping for a "blue miracle". However, most of the cheers were not for their own result, but for the poor performance of the Greens.

Over the course of the evening, it became clearer that the AfD was unlikely to advance to first place. André Wendt, state parliament vice president for the AfD in Saxony, admitted that he had expected a better result. Nevertheless, AfD national chairman Tino Chrupalla spoke of a "very good result".

BSW not a "stirrup holder for the current prime minister"

The atmosphere at the BSW election party was exuberant. The leadership duo Sabine Zimmermann and Jörg Richter were celebrated by BSW supporters with minutes of applause. Both described the 12 percent achieved from a standing start as a historic success. Richter emphasized that they were striving for a new policy and would not be a "stooge for the current prime minister". "With us, there will only be a new start. We will not be the majority procurers," said Zimmermann with a view to possible coalition talks.

There was great relief among the Saxon SPD after the first election forecasts were announced. SPD lead candidate Petra Köpping said she was glad to have the "really tough election campaign" behind her. She recalled that her party was still polling at three percent at the beginning of the year. SPD party leader Henning Homann spoke of a "small respectable success".

Left party bitter at loss of former strength

The mood at the Left party's election party was noticeably subdued. The initial hope of perhaps still achieving a respectable result had all but evaporated by the time the first forecasts came out. Co-leader Stefan Hartmann called for a fundamental new start for the party. The loss of its former strength in the new federal states was particularly bitter. However, because the Left Party is likely to win direct mandates in two Leipzig constituencies, they can still enter the state parliament thanks to the so-called basic mandate clause. According to the projections, however, they will probably not overcome the five percent hurdle.

Greens: election result not what people deserve

At the Greens' election party, Saxony's Green Party state chairwoman Christin Furtenbacher said: "This election result is not what the people of Saxony deserve, and that has to be said very clearly." However, there were also cheers later on when the top trio of Katja Meier, Wolfram Günther and Franziska Schubert commented on the results. Many political forces had tried to push the Greens down with all their might, said parliamentary group leader Schubert. "What did we do? We stayed on top," she added to applause.