Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Al-Saadi: There were concerns that Lahham would be placed under administrative detention.
Al-Saadi: The Israeli occupation authorities could not prove any allegations leveled against Nasser Lahham.
Lawyer Oussama al-Saadi: The oppressive Israeli measures of delaying Lahham's release had vengeful motives.
Nasser Lahham's lawyer said the journalist was released without any conditions or restrictions, adding that the conditions in which he was kept were terrible.
The Israeli occupation authorities release Al Mayadeen Palestine bureau chief Nasser al-Lahham.
Local Syrian sources: An Israeli airstrike targeted a tank and artillery battalion in the city of Izraa in the Daraa countryside
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in eastern Lebanon: 12 martyrs and 5 wounded in Israeli raids targeting the outskirts of Wadi Fa'ra in the northern Bekaa Valley
Local Syrian sources: More than 10 Israeli raids targeted Sweida, with information about more than five casualties from the Internal Security Forces
Local Syrian sources: Initial reports indicate that approximately 15 people were killed or wounded at the al-Radwan family's guest house in Sweida following a direct exchange of gunfire
Israeli media, citing Israeli political sources, reported that the Shas movement is expected to withdraw from the government within less than 24 hours

Germany’s AfD party wins historic victory in local elections

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 26 Jun 2023 13:00
3 Min Read

Alternative for Germany candidate Robert Sesselmann makes landmark win in Sonnenberg, Thuringia, making it the first district to be the first to be run by the AfD party.

  • x
  • Robert Sesselmann of the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party in Sonneberg, eastern Germany, June 25, 2023. (AFP)
    Robert Sesselmann of the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party in Sonneberg, eastern Germany, June 25, 2023 (AFP)

In Sonneberg, Thuringia, Robert Sesselmann made the central state the first to be run by the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party after he came on top in a runoff vote for district administrator.

Located near the border of Bavaria, the district became a landmark according to AfD co-chief Alice Weidel who wrote on Twitter that "Robert Sesselmann has made history."

Sesselmann managed to acquire 52.8% of the votes, reported the electoral office, despite the continued appeals to voters, by mainstream parties, to reaffirm their support for CDU incumbent candidate Joergen Koepper.

#Sonneberg hat sein blaues Wunder erlebt: Robert #Sesselmann ist der erste #AfD-Landrat Deutschlands. Wir gratulieren herzlich und bedanken uns bei allen Unterstützern und Wählern - sie alle haben heute Geschichte geschrieben! pic.twitter.com/ue5j5gf6u1

— AfD (@AfD) June 25, 2023

The win came at a time when recent polls indicated that support for the AfD has reached a record of 18 to 20%, matching the support for Chancellor Olaf Scholz's Social Democrats and lagging behind the conservative CDU/CSU bloc, only.

In Thuringia, Brandenburg, and Saxony, the former communist states of East Germany, the AfD has been faring even better. These states will hold regional elections next year, and the AfD intends to make significant gains there.

The Interior Minister of Georg Maier, affiliated with the Social Democratic Party of Germany, considered the outcome of the most recent election in Sonneberg "an alarm bell for all democratic forces," as reported by German news outlet Bild.

Poll shows increased support for Germany's AfD

Earlier, at the end of May, a poll published by the Bild revealed that support for the AfD party has increased its popular base to a five-year high amid growing distrust towards the Greens. 

The survey, conducted by INSA from May 22-26, showed that AfD earned 1% to poll at 18%, whilst the Greens lost 1% to 13% - their lowest rate in five years. 

The poll also revealed that the number of respondents who said they would never vote for AfD decreased from 60% in December to 53.9% in May. 

"The number of eligible voters who are categorically opposed to AfD has decreased markedly. The social climate has changed in AfD’s favor," Insa head Hermann Binkert said.  

The Green party in Germany is one of three making up the coalition of Social Democrat Olaf Scholz.

Since Germany's economy minister Robert Habeck, who also happens to be a Green party delegate, has been accused of cronyism, the party has faced serious challenges to its reputation.

Other relevant results from the poll revealed that the opposition conservative bloc, the CDU/CSU, scored with 28% of eligible voters' support, followed by Social Democrats with 20% and 9% for the Free Democrats.

Read more: German economy unlikely to improve in the short-term: Experts

  • Sonnenberg
  • Germany
  • Robert Sesselmann
  • Alternative for Germany party (AfD)

Most Read

Hezbollah SG reveals war details on Al Mayadeen for the first time

Hezbollah SG reveals war details on Al Mayadeen for the first time

  • Politics
  • 8 Jul 2025
Yemen Navy sinks ETERNITY C ship, shares footage of operation

Yemen Navy sinks ETERNITY C ship, shares footage of operation

  • Politics
  • 9 Jul 2025
This satellite image from Planet Labs PBC shows damage after an Iranian attack at the al Udeid Airbase outside of Doha, Qatar, June 25, 2025 (Planet Labs PBC via AP)

Satellite images show Iran attack damaged US comms dome in Qatari base

  • Politics
  • 11 Jul 2025
An Israeli soldier abandons an excavator during an ambush by al-Qassam Brigades. Arabic text reads "The moment the soldier fled", July, 10, 2025 (Al Qassam Military Media)

Israeli media rue al-Qassam footage, alarmed by fighters among troops

  • Politics
  • 11 Jul 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
Syrian government forces deploy at the Mazraa village on the outskirts of city of Sweida, where clashes erupted between Bedouin clans and Druze factions, southern Syria, Monday, July 14, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Gulf-backed negotiations underway in Syria's Sweida to end clashes

UN: 798 Palestinians killed while trying to reach aid in Gaza
Palestine

UN: 798 Palestinians killed while trying to reach aid in Gaza

A damaged car is seen at a field that was hit in an Israeli airstrike in Nabi Sheet village, in Lebanon's eastern Bekaa Valley, Wednesday, August 21, 2024 (AP)
Politics

Hezbollah condemns Israeli Bekaa massacre, urges action from Lebanon

Palestinians walk next to the closed humanitarian aid distribution center of UNRWA, the UN agency helping Palestinian refugees in Jabaliya, Gaza Strip, on Tuesday, April 29, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Israeli regime cuts electricity, water supplies to UNRWA Gaza offices

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS