Greens call for self-critical analysis after AfD victory in Pirna

The Greens have called for a self-critical analysis following the victory of the AfD candidate in the mayoral election in Pirna. "The election victory in conjunction with the low voter turnout of 53 percent clearly shows that democratic parties, including us Greens of course, are currently failing to reach too many people," explained party chairwoman Marie Müser on Monday in Dresden. All democratic parties need to come to the table and self-critically analyze why this is the case and what needs to be changed. "One thing is clear: we must be more successful in developing answers to the pressing issues of our time together with the people and implementing solutions."

On Sunday, Tim Lochner became the first AfD candidate to win a mayoral election in Germany. The 53-year-old beat CDU candidate Kathrin Dollinger-Knuth and the independent Ralf Thiele, who ran for the Free Voters, in the second round of voting. Lochner himself is also independent and, by his own admission, does not want to join the AfD. The AfD state association in Saxony was recently classified by the Office for the Protection of the Constitution as a confirmed right-wing extremist organization.

Party chairwoman Christin Furtenbacher spoke of a "dam break for Saxony". "We are very concerned that the candidate of a party that was classified as right-wing extremist just a few days ago was able to win the race." The AfD poses a major threat to democracy and should not be underestimated. "It is therefore all the more important to support all those who are committed to democratic coexistence. It would be completely wrong to lump the whole of Pirna together. The majority in Pirna did not vote AfD.