BERLIN — Voters in the German state of Thuringia are casting ballots in a state election that could boost a far-right politician known for his fiery anti-migrant speeches.
Picture taken May 1, 2019 shows Thuringia’s AfD faction leader Bjoern Hoecke attending a rally in Erfurt, Germany. German federal state Thuringia has elections on Sunday. (AP Photo/Jens Meyer/File Photo/MANILA BULLETIN)
About 1.7 million people are eligible to vote in Sunday’s election in the state, located in the heart of Germany and currently governed by a three-party left-wing coalition headed by Bodo Ramelow, a member of the ex-communist Left Party.
The state government is likely to lose its majority amid growing support for the far-right Alternative for Germany party. Its leader in Thuringia, Bjoern Hoecke, has come under scrutiny from Germany’s domestic intelligence agency for possible extremist views.
Since other parties have ruled out cooperating with the far-right Hoecke, forming a new governing coalition in the state could require previously untested alliances or a minority government.