Sonneberg after the AfD election: silence before the storm of emotions!

Sonneberg after the AfD election: silence before the storm of emotions!

In Sonneberg, the city that caused a national stir two years ago with the election of Robert Sesselmann as the first AfD district administrator, there is a cautious mood these days. The AfD has now developed into the strongest political force in the city and district association, which triggers both enthusiasm and horror among citizens. While some accept the new political landscape, there is a lively counter-movement, such as the group “Grandmas Against the Right,” which is actively campaigning against the party's right-wing conservative orientation and is organizing a “democracy festival” to commemorate Sesselmann's election. But how are the residents doing since taking office?

According to reports from [Focus]. Many residents avoid discussions about the AfD for fear of conflict. Margret, an activist, even reports death threats and threats from right-wing mobs. Political tensions are the order of the day: The CDU and the Left are working together in the citizens' alliance “Sonneberg shows attitude” to demonstrate against the AfD. Robert Eberth, a CDU representative, criticizes the negative climate in local politics, which was exacerbated by the presence of the AfD.

The impact of the election

Many people perceive Sesselmann's election as a shock. Comments from citizens like Abdull Abdullah show that expectations of change after taking office were not met. “The conditions have remained the same,” he complains, pointing to a negative attitude towards the press. Christian Tanzmeier from the CDU also expresses his disappointment with the cooperation in the district council, especially with regard to post issues.
Surprisingly, however, there has been little negative impact on tourism, which some interpret as a sign that the uproar surrounding the AfD is not as deep as originally thought.

The AfD continues to enjoy high levels of support and achieved considerable vote shares in various federal states in the last local elections. The party achieved 28% in Saxony-Anhalt and 26% in Brandenburg and Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. In Thuringia, however, the number of seats falls short of expectations. According to [fr.de].

The historical development of the AfD

The AfD was founded in 2013 as a Euro-critical party and quickly developed into a right-wing populist force. Initially more liberal-conservative in orientation, the party's course changed in 2014 at the latest, when the first significant electoral successes were celebrated in East Germany. The bpb explains that from the beginning, internal party conflicts between moderate and radical forces shaped the development of the AfD. Ultimately, the influence of the far right within the party was very significant. Most recently, the AfD recorded rising poll numbers again, boosted by the energy price crisis from 2022.

At a time when diversity of opinion and tolerance are needed more than ever, the situation in Sonneberg remains tense. The resistance against the AfD only shows sporadic strength, while some business people support the activists but often do not take a clear stance against the party. Robert Eberth tried to respond to the polarization with humor and set an example for the importance of freedom of expression. It remains to be seen what happens next with the political climate in this charged city.