Wagenknecht Weidel: Left and right-wing extremists plan joint election campaign

Far-right AfD and left-wing Die Linke join forces ahead of crucial state election

BERLIN, March 8 (Reuters) - Germany's far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) and the hard-left Die Linke party are planning to run a joint election campaign in the eastern state of Saxony, a move that has sent shockwaves through the country's political establishment.

Background:

The two parties are diametrically opposed on most issues, with the AfD taking a hardline stance against immigration and the EU, while Die Linke is a democratic socialist party that advocates for social justice and economic equality.

However, they have found common ground in their opposition to the current state government in Saxony, which is led by the conservative Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and the center-left Social Democratic Party (SPD).

The AfD and Die Linke have accused the CDU/SPD coalition of failing to address the concerns of ordinary people in Saxony, particularly in rural areas that have been hit hard by economic decline and unemployment.

Election implications:

The joint campaign is likely to have a significant impact on the upcoming state election in Saxony, which is scheduled to take place on September 1.

Opinion polls suggest that the AfD and Die Linke could together win a majority of seats in the state parliament, which would give them the power to form a government.

This would be a major breakthrough for both parties, and could send a shockwave through the German political system.

Reaction:

The news of the AfD-Die Linke alliance has been met with widespread condemnation from other political parties, including the CDU, SPD, and the Greens.

Critics have accused the two parties of putting their own political ambitions ahead of the interests of the people of Saxony.

They have also warned that a joint AfD-Die Linke government would be a disaster for the state.

Wagenknecht Weidel