In Brandenburg Spd ahead, Afd fails to repeat triumph

di Rosanna Pugliese (ANSA) - BERLINO, 22 SET - In Germany, the Social Democrats snatched victory in Brandenburg, snatching the coveted first place from the ultra-right, which failed to repeat the historic result of 15 days ago, when the Afd dominated in Erfurt. And on one thing everyone agrees: if Chancellor Olaf Scholz can breathe a sigh of relief, the architect of the masterpiece in the Land on the outskirts of Berlin is called Dietmar Woidke, who has blatantly unseated himself from the Kanzler. After eleven years at the helm of the region, it is he, the outgoing governor, who, barely two weeks after the electoral disaster the party cashed in Saxony and Thuringia, has reaped the fruits of a move as bold as it was successful: asking voters to make a clear choice between him and the nationalists, announcing a resignation that was not at all due (he never risked the presidency) in case, instead, he came second. The vote in Brandenburg has raised international attention again, since it is also a crucial test in Berlin, and especially for the chancellor. Indeed, a defeat in the region where the Spd has held the undisputed lead since Reunification would have jeopardized his reelection bid in 2025.
    But Scholz did not remain deaf to the wake-up call, tightening refugee policy immediately after the Solingen bombing (with border controls and easier expulsions) and changing his policy discourse even on Ukraine. Prompted certainly also by widespread popular sentiment in the East, where the war is very scary and the government's economic choices that make Germany the world's second-largest supporter of KIev are clearly being challenged, the Kanzler said that the time has "come to sound out the possibilities" for negotiating peace with Vladimir Putin.
    And he assured that he will not provide Taurus, "no military means that could reach Moscow."Returning to Brandenburg, this Sunday's vote prevented a new triumph for the party, which is also being monitored by the Internal Services in this state as "suspected" of right-wing extremism."Our goal was to prevent Brandenburg from a brown brand," said the 62-year-old Woidke, referring to the color of the shirts of Hitler's National Socialists."And we are glad that, it seems from the current data, that might be the case," the leading player commented hotly after the first exit polls, still keeping cautious, remarking that he had achieved "a vote chase and a recovery of historic magnitude."From 18 percent in August polls, the party would now have 31.1 percent (according to projections released by Ard in prime time).Of a different opinion is Alternative leader Alice Weidel: "The real winners of the night are us.In Brandenburg there was a tactical vote.It is no coincidence that Schleswig-Holstein's Christian Democrat governor Kretschmer asked Brandenburgers to vote for the SPD.
    But we have to accept it. We are serene, it's just a stage.
    You'll see what happens at the feds," the added to public TV, commenting on figures that put the party at 29.8 percent.
    Admitting bitter defeat, however, was the Cdu: "There was a clear polarization between the Afd and Woidke. And as the losers of the evening I can say: the governor was very brave, he decided to bet everything on one card. Best wishes to the Social Democrats in Brandenburg," general secretary Carsten Liennemann's comment on the result of the Cdu, which took an 11.9 percent, the worst outcome ever in the east. Still trembling instead are the Greens, who are reportedly at 5 percent, while the Liberals, below 1 percent announced "an autumn of decisions." Sahra Wagenknecht, who has fallen ill and cannot celebrate with the fledgling party that bears her name, wins a 12.3 percent on her debut in the state. While the Linke, at 3 percent, admits "disaster." (ANSA).