Mr Lochner, who is not a member of the AfD, was elected in Pirna of 38,000 in the “Saxon Switzerland” with 38.54%, beating the Christian Democratic Party (CDU) candidate.
Tim Lochner it happened yesterday, sunday, the first mayor of a German city who is elected with the support of the Alternative for Germany (AfD). Mr Lochner, who is not a member of the AfD, was elected in Pirna of 38,000 in the “Saxon Switzerland” with 38.54%, beating the Christian Democratic Party (CDU) candidate.
After the first round of elections on 26 November, the Social Democratic Party (SPD), the Greens, the Left and one more independent candidate withdrew, asking their supporters to vote for CDU candidate Kathryn Dollinger-Knuth, who nevertheless managed to gather only 31.9%. In Saxony, the second round system does not apply with the first two competing against each other, but repeat elections are held and a simple majority is sufficient to elect the new mayor, who has a seven-year term.
“I want to keep my ears open for everyone in Pirna and try to overcome the division in our town’s society,” Mr. Lochner said after his election.
A few days ago the local office of the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution described the AfD organization in Saxony as “definitely far-right”. Similar decisions had been made for the local organizations in Thuringia and Saxony-Anhalt. In Saxony, where state elections will be held in 2024, the AfD leads the polls with close to 35%.
Source :Skai
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