The Central Council of Jews in Germany has expressed deep concern over the results of the state elections in Saxony and Thuringia, where the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) made significant gains.
In an article published in Bild, President Josef Schuster wrote, “More and more people are voting for the AfD out of political conviction.” He noted that while the new populist party, BSW, remains largely unknown, what is known about its leadership and agenda is troubling.
In Thuringia, the AfD won the election with a decisive lead over the CDU, and in Saxony, it secured a close second place. Both state branches of the AfD are officially classified as right-wing extremist by the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution.
Schuster described the AfD’s performance as “a historic and deeply concerning development.”
The BSW, participating in state elections for the first time, achieved double-digit results in both regions.
Schuster emphasized the gravity of the situation, asking, “Germany is reeling. Can we recover from this blow?” He stressed the need for the free society to stand firm, particularly in the face of threats like Islamist terrorism. According to Schuster, what is required now are “unvarnished truths” and “honesty and sincerity,” rather than “populist pseudo-solutions from radical parties.”
He called on mainstream politicians to respond decisively: “It is the responsibility of centrist politicians to speak plainly and honestly. It’s time to push back.”
