Saxony SPD disappointed by the result of the European elections

The Saxon SPD has expressed its disappointment with the outcome of the European elections in Germany. "I cannot be satisfied with the result for my SPD, even though we are once again the strongest party in the progressive camp (...)", said Matthias Ecke, the leading candidate in Saxony, on Sunday after the first projections. Nationwide, the SPD was behind the CDU and the AfD with 14 percent. Ecke was attacked during the election campaign in Dresden and beaten until he was ready for hospitalization. "It was the toughest election campaign we've ever seen - with verbal and physical attacks. This is a challenge for democracy. We have to take this seriously and work through it so that we learn the right lessons for the future."

Ecke was also pleased about his foreseeable re-entry into the European Parliament and the increased voter turnout: "This also shows that people see the European Parliament as a representative of their interests. That strengthens our backs." He took a differentiated view of the AfD's result. The AfD had remained well below the interim poll figures, but had made gains. It is now up to the other parties to develop appropriate strategies to counter this: "However, we also see that the growth of the AfD has limits."

The election result fell far short of expectations, said party leader Henning Homann and is already looking ahead. The state election on September 1 is all about Saxony. State issues must also take center stage. Clear, stable majorities are needed to ensure that this state remains governable. There must be a majority of constructive parties and not parties that are only against it.

According to SPD leader Kathrin Michel, the SPD must now also come to terms with why the issues put forward during the election campaign did not "catch on", even though they were on people's minds. During the election campaign, it was clear that many issues were overshadowed by federal politics. For the SPD, it is now a matter of sharpening its profile when it comes to issues such as democratic cohesion.