The election of the Landtag (parliament) of two eastern German states, Saxony and Brandenburg was held on the 1st of September. Germany’s ruling parties, the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and the Social Democrats (SPD) received the highest votes in Saxony and Brandenburg, respectively, while the Alternative for Germany (AfD) surged to second place.

Although Germany’s ruling parties still hold the majority of the seats in the states, the results invoked mixed reactions and have shaken Germany’s political landscape ever so slightly.

A Change in the Political Landscape

The CDU and SPD have been the dominant parties in most German states since the end of the Cold War. The rise of the anti-establishment AfD indicates a significant change in the country’s political landscape. Politico notes that Germany’s political system “has become more divided, less predictable and — some argue — more democratic, with the inclusion of a greater diversity of views.”

In a move to outmanoeuvre the far-right AfD, some conservative politicians have begun to adopt some AfD positions, Politicoreported. 

New Allies 

Both the CDU and the SPD are reportedly unwilling to form a government with the AfD. Since 2014, Saxony has been led by a CDU-SPD coalition, while in Bradenburg, SPD and Die Linke (The left) have led the state. But Sunday’s results make it impossible to form a government without a third coalition partner.

The Local predicts that the Greens will most likely join the government in both states. However, ideological differences among the parties will make this challenging.

This election, again, brings the fate of the coalition government in Berlin into the spotlight. There have been speculations of fractures within the governing coalition and, although the results give them some reprieve, many believe the coalition will not hold for much longer.

All eyes are now on the upcoming election scheduled for the 27th of October in the eastern state of Thuringia, where Die Linke, SPD, and the Greens form the government.