Far-Right Surge in Germany: The AfD Dominates Youth Vote in Thuringia and Saxony

In the recent German federal state elections held on September 1, 2024, the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party achieved significant victories in both Saxony and Thuringia.

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In Thuringia the AfD emerged as the leading party, obtaining approximately 32.8% of the vote, making it the first far-right party to win a state election in Germany since the 1930s.

The Christian Democratic Union (CDU) followed with about 23.6%, while the Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance (BSW) secured third place with 15.8%.

The Social Democrats (SPD) only garnered around 6%, and the Greens 3.2%. The Greens, who are a coalition member of the incumbent German federal government alongside the Social Democrats and the Free Liberals, failed to meet the 5% threshold needed for representation in the state parliament.

In Saxony, the CDU maintained a narrow lead with approximately 31.9% of the vote, closely followed by the AfD at around 30.6%. The BSW came in third with about 11.8%. The SPD and Greens performed poorly, with the SPD receiving just over 7% and the Greens slightly above 5%.

The youth vote played a major role in the AfD’s electoral victory, as it became the strongest political force among 18 to 24-year-olds by a significant margin.

In Thuringia, approximately 38% of this age group voted for the AfD, while 16% voted for the Left party, 13% for the Chistian Democrats, and 12% for the Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance. The Social Democrats and the Greens only received 7 and 6% respectively.

In Saxony, the AfD has also made significant inroads among young voters aged 18 to 24, with support surging by eleven percentage points since the 2019 state elections. Now, about 31% of this demographic have cast their ballots for the AfD.

In stark contrast, the Greens have suffered a notable decline, witnessing a twelve-point drop in their support among young voters compared to five years ago. This shift reflects a broader trend where traditional parties are struggling to resonate with younger constituents, who are increasingly drawn to the AfD's messaging, particularly on social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram.

“The AfD's themes resonate significantly more on social media compared to those of the SPD or CDU,” stated Rüdiger Maas, a psychologist and co-founder of the Institute for Generational Research, in an interview with NTV. He emphasised that the party has strategically cultivated influencers who have achieved substantial reach. Furthermore, Maas highlighted how the AfD has effectively crafted a victim narrative, portraying itself as a target of discrimination by others.

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Sources:

https://www.zdf.de/nachrichten/politik/deutschland/landtagswahl-sachsen-landtagswahl-thueringen-liveticker-100.html

https://www.zeit.de/politik/deutschland/2024-09/wahlverhalten-landtagswahlen-sachen-thueringen-alter-beteiligung

https://www.n-tv.de/politik/AfD-bei-18-bis-24-Jaehrigen-mit-grossem-Abstand-staerkste-Kraft-article25198797.html

https://www.tagesschau.de/wahl/archiv/2024-09-01-LT-DE-TH/umfrage-afd.shtml

https://www.derwesten.de/politik/afd-jungwaehler-sachsen-thueringen-gruene-generation-z-hoecke-id301120362.html

https://www1.wdr.de/nachrichten/landtagswahlen-afd-fuehrt-in-thueringen-cdu-in-sachsen-vorn-100.html

https://www.mdr.de/nachrichten/deutschland/politik/landtagswahl-sachsen-thueringen-warum-junge-menschen-afd-waehlen-100.html

https://www.merkur.de/politik/hoecke-thueringen-wahl-2024-ergebnisse-hochrechnungen-prognosen-live-landtagswahl-heute-cdu-afd-zr-93273799.html

https://www.srf.ch/news/international/landtagswahlen-wahlsieg-der-populisten

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