Robert Sesselmann, candidate of the far-right Alternative Party for Germany (AfD), won the election in Sonneberg, Thuringia, and became the country’s first far-right district governor.
RECEIVED 52.8 PERCENT OF THE VOTES
Sesselmann, who was also a member of the Thüringen state council, received 52.8 percent of the vote, while Jürgen Köpper, the candidate of the Christian Democratic Union Party (CDU), remained at 47.2 percent despite the support of other parties.
“I think we need to redefine the spirit of German unity, take the East Germans with us and not make them feel like they’re being laughed at,” said Thuringia State Chancellor Bodo Ramelow. said. Thuringia Minister of the Interior Georg Maier described the election result as an alarm signal for all democratic forces, saying, “It is time to put party and political interests aside and defend democracy together.” used the phrases.
Woke up a big echo
Local elections held in the region bordering Bavaria had nationwide repercussions. Sonneberg is one of the smallest constituencies in the country, with a population of 57 thousand and approximately 48 thousand voters. Sesselmann and the AfD campaigned heavily on federal issues such as the controversial heating law, high inflation, or rising refugee numbers. In Germany, the district governors serve as the manager of the administrative division between the state and the municipalities and are elected to office. There are over 400 counties in Germany. (AA)