Thuringia Faces Fourth Election in One Year: Spotlight on Bundestagswahl
After a whirlwind election cycle in 2024, Thuringia gears up for its fourth election in just over a year with the upcoming Bundestag election on Sunday. This election comes on the heels of local elections, runoffs, European Parliament elections, and state elections, making it an arduous election season for many Thuringians.
Political Prominence in the Spotlight
The election promises to be a star-studded affair, with several high-profile Thuringian politicians seeking office. Among the most notable is Bodo Ramelow, former Thuringian Minister-President, who is seeking a direct mandate as a top candidate for the Left party. Ramelow is joined by two other seasoned Left party veterans, Gregor Gysi and Dietmar Bartsch, in what has been dubbed the "Mission Silverlock." Their aim is to secure three direct mandates and guarantee the Left party’s entry into the Bundestag.
Katrin Göring-Eckardt, a prominent figure in the Greens, has served as Bundestag Vice President since 2021 and is now seeking reelection. She leads the Greens’ state list. Thomas Kemmerich, who gained notoriety when he was elected Minister-President with AfD support in 2020, is also seeking a direct mandate for the Bundestag. Carsten Schneider, an SPD politician, aims to return to the Bundestag after serving as the Federal Government’s East Commissioner. His predecessor in that role, Christian Hirte (CDU), is the Thuringian top candidate for the CDU in the Bundestag election.
Unusual Contest in Eisenach-Wartburgkreis-Unstrut-Hainich-Kreis
A peculiar situation has arisen in the Eisenach-Wartburgkreis-Unstrut-Hainich-Kreis constituency. In 2021, Klaus Stöber won the most first votes on an AfD ticket. However, Stöber has since become one of the most vocal critics of the AfD’s state leadership under Björn Höcke and Stefan Möller. Facing party expulsion proceedings, Stöber is running as an independent candidate in the Bundestag election. The AfD is fielding Möller as its candidate in Thuringia.
High Stakes in Erfurt–Weimar–Weimarer Land II
Due to the presence of several political heavyweights, the Erfurt–Weimar–Weimarer Land II constituency is expected to be hotly contested. Among the candidates are Ramelow, Göring-Eckardt, Schneider, and Kemmerich. Michael Hose of the CDU and candidates from the BSW, Free Voters, and MLPD are also in the running. The AfD’s Alexander Claus is also considered a strong contender due to the party’s surge in popularity in Thuringia.
Electoral System Changes
The Bundestag election features a significant electoral system change. Under the new system, not every candidate who wins a direct mandate will automatically enter the Bundestag. Instead, they must also meet a threshold of second votes for their party. Only party-independent candidates can secure a Bundestag seat with a first-place finish in their constituency.
Party Hopes and Expectations
The CDU hopes to improve on its performance in the 2021 election, where it received only 16.9% of the vote. The election could also have implications for the AfD under Höcke, as both his second-in-command Stefan Möller and his parliamentary strategist Torben Braga have Chancen for a Bundestag seat.
In 2021, the AfD secured 24% of the vote in Thuringia, significantly higher than the national average. The Left party received 11.4%, the SPD 23.4%, the FDP 9.0%, and the Greens 6.6%. For the BSW, this is the first Bundestag election. In the Thuringian state election, the young party achieved 15.8% of the vote.
As the election draws near, Thuringia prepares for a highly contested battle with plenty of intrigue and political star power on display. The results will have significant implications for the national political landscape and the future of the Bundestag.
