Elections in Germany, surprise in Brandenburg: Schulz's salvation and the SPD advance to the right of the AfD

From our correspondent
Berlin's surprise in Brandenburg. Contrary to all opinion polls, Chancellor Olaf Scholz's Social Democrats came first in the regional elections with 30.5%, ahead of the Alternative for Germany (AfD) (29.4%). Compared to the last vote 4 years ago, it actually gains four points. If everyone expects a fleeting victory for the far right Alternatives to Germany – Without the possibility of governing, because no party wanted to ally with them – Well, that didn't happen. September Trilogy – Saxony and Thuringia on September 1 Brandenburg Today, the expectations predicted by the AfD polls seem to have faded.

The Christian Democratic Union (CDU) party won 12.1%, ahead of the populist and nationalist left led by Sahra Wagenknecht, Poland (13.4%). Greens fail to enter parliament (4.2) Forming a governing coalition will also be difficult. The CDU has 44 seats out of 88, not a majority. The fact remains that the anti-establishment populist forces, the Alternative for Germany (AfD) and the Sarah Wagenknecht Union, won 43% of the popular vote.

But it would be presumptuous of the counselor to think that all this does not concern him. Why? For Schulz, too, the past few weeks have been all about relaunching.has an extraordinary fighting ability. For several months it was said that if the SPD had been defeated in SeptemberEven if he lost the only territory in the East that he ruled, Brandenburg – the richest in the East, the cultural, economic and political backbone of the capital, a “red” fiefdom since the fall of the Berlin Wall. – In short, If the collapse had happened here too, it could have been the end of Semaforo's government..But there's more. Bad result for Schulz. This would almost certainly have opened up an internal conflict within the Social Democratic Party.And the riots and attempts to replace her. If not as head of government, then at least as a candidate for chancellor in 2025. All these hypotheses will now be reshuffled.

Scholz is said to have done his part. At the same time, after the Solingen attack, he adopted a hardline stance on immigration, which surprised the Christian Democratic opposition. Berlin has gone so far as to reimpose border controls.A turning point, if not populist, then at least popular. Then he defended his choices and worked in parliament like a lion.And speaking out without hesitation and responding to Merz's attacks with a widely publicized intervention. Finally he went around the world, to Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, and now in New York at the United Nations. To show that he is the one who makes foreign policy when it matters. In short, From today, it is difficult to consider it finished..

But the CDU's result was more negative.who aims to lead Germany into national elections within a year. The 12.1% represents a drop of more than three points compared to four years ago. It's not a great start for Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who officially entered the field this week.Of course, he could always shrug his shoulders and blame his candidate in Brandenburg. Jan Redman44 years old, Who was caught during the election campaign driving an electric bike while drunkPerhaps for this reason, fearing a violent reaction from Brandenburg, Merz brought forward the timing of his arrival on the scene. But now he may have begun to feel some apprehension as well.