The September 1 regional elections German Chancellor Olaf Scholz didn't want to see coming hit him and his ruling coalition like a ton of bricks anyway.

"Crushed" was a commonly used adjective from Bloomberg to other major news organs routinely covering Europe.

When it comes to Germany, I don’t think it’s “uncharted territory” pic.twitter.com/OONsFMYjse

— nazir afzal (@nazirafzal) September 2, 2024

The gloom about the populist party's rise is tangible through all the reports. The margin of the gains has to be an especially bitter pill with all the concerted demonization, vitriol, and hyperbole  - not to mention flat-out politically based persecution - thrown against the AfD's party members for the better part of the past year. 

Even organized leftist street demonstrations the week preceding the elections deriding "the far-right extremists" seemed to have the opposite effect.

They scored handsome advances, coming in second in Saxony and taking the prize in Thuringia.

Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s ruling coalition was punished in two regional elections in eastern Germany on Sunday, with populist parties on the extreme right and left taking more than 60% of the vote in Thuringia and almost half in Saxony.

The Alternative for Germany is on course for a clear victory in Thuringia on 32.8%, according to projections for public broadcaster ARD. It represents the first triumph for a far-right party in a German state ballot since World War II, even if it’s highly unlikely to be able to form a government as it’s shunned by the other parties represented in parliament.

The three members of Scholz’s alliance — his Social Democrats, the Greens and the Free Democrats — between them got less than 15% in each of the two states. The FDP got nowhere near the 5% threshold for getting into either regional parliament and the Greens fell short in Thuringia. The only mainstream party to do relatively well was the conservative CDU, which is projected to win narrowly in Saxony ahead of the AfD and finish second in Thuringia.

But in the world of parliamentary legislating, "winning" isn't all it's cracked up to be. The clear victors with over 30%, AfD still needs a partner for a ruling coalition in order to move legislation through, and no one wants to play with them. 

Olaf Scholz isn't about to promote any moments of post-electoral unity/the people have spoken, either. In fact, he sounds kind of insurrectionary.

Left-wing chancellor of Germany Olaf Scholz is calling for all parties to refuse to form a state government with the AfD after the party came far ahead in first place in Thuringia.

Antifa have announced direct actions in reaction to the electoral outcomes in two German states. https://t.co/42bELWKkxi pic.twitter.com/5A38mz2mI9

— Andy Ngo 🏳️‍🌈 (@MrAndyNgo) September 2, 2024

What a sore loser, no?

But Scholz and his buddies have been tightening the screws on opposition voices for years without having the first clue what the actual effects are. 

Democracy - pffft. Hardly. They're the first to squawk about "Nazis" and extremists - I can only assume that, like vampires, none of them own mirrors.

🚨🇩🇪 Germany is NOT OK

The Powerhouse of Europe is sick - the economy is tanking & The Greens have wrecked the Country’s energy security.

Add in unprecedented immigration & inflation & it’s a mess.

Rather than address these major issues the Governments response is even harsher… pic.twitter.com/Z4fPyexCWE

— Concerned Citizen (@BGatesIsaPyscho) August 17, 2024

The German Greens, part of Scholz's coalition, and the party - thanks to Bond villain senior leaders like Robert Habeck - whose radical policies have single-handedly destroyed the German nuclear industry, caused the continuing collapse of the once vaunted industrial base, and cheered on the diversity flooding their knife-crime-ridden streets, scored so poorly in the elections that they no longer have a seat on Parliament for those two areas.

The woman with the quivering lip is the Green Pary leader watching returns come in and realizing they have been booted from any part in representation for those regions in Parliament. But she's still not smart enough to figure out why.

German greens after loosing badly, not even making it into the parliament

pic.twitter.com/JootEzyeG9

— Lord Bebo (@MyLordBebo) September 2, 2024

Why do I say that?

After the humiliation and sniffling, God bless her little lefty pointed head, she gave an interview denying their support of unfettered immigration had anything to do with their ignominious defeat.

Meet Ricarda Lang, co-leader of the German greens. She does not think migration was the key topic in yesterday's German state elections https://t.co/3P6BN3cWJI

— Pieter Cleppe (@pietercleppe) September 2, 2024

I swear to god - you can't do anything with them.

Word was also breaking this morning concerning more Green deleterious effects on the German economy, which vindicates every single populist vote. For the first time since they were founded 87 years ago, Volkswagen is shutting down German factories.

This is a seismic psychological blow outside of the economics of the moment.

Volkswagen AG is considering unprecedented factory closures in Germany in a bid for deeper cutbacks, delivering another blow to Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s government.

...Any shutdowns would mark the first closures in Germany during the company’s 87-year history, setting VW up for a clash with powerful unions.

...A full-blown labor dispute would be a major test for the CEO — who also heads up the Porsche sports car brand — after union clashes felled a number of his VW predecessors. The company has struggled to cut costs at its namesake passenger brand where profit margins have long lagged, with efforts becoming harder amid a sputtering transition to EVs and a consumer spending slowdown.

Nothing but good news for Olaf this weekend.

Now, in Saxony, the AfD came in a strong second and, for a moment, looked as if it would still have enough of a seat percentage to be able to block legislation it opposed even without partners.

So, a convenient oops took care of even that limited advantage this morning.

German election officials now assert that a "software error" occurred during yesterday's election. Because of this "software error", two critical seats have been transferred from conservative parties to leftist parties. Just incredible. https://t.co/pQ0zd2e5Kg

— Hans Mahncke (@HansMahncke) September 2, 2024

This was the effect of losing the first seat. I guess they wanted insurance.

...Had AfD managed to retain it, they would have been able to block the 2/3 majority needed for appointing constitutional judges and heads of state audit offices. 

2/3 majorities are also needed for the state parliament to dissolve itself and call snap elections. 

Having the power to block 2-3 majority decisions, AfD would have had considerable power in Saxony and might have been able to force other parties to negotiations.

IT WAS A GLITCH

I just think that's the oddest thing, don't you? Now, I wouldn't want to cast aspersions, but it does lead one to stroke one's chin and wonder a little.

The AfD has been stripped of every bit of power it should rightfully have earned by *checks notes* winning one and coming in a strong second in the other.

I am delighted our Founding Fathers went with their brilliant system.

The leftists threw themselves fiery but peaceful tantrums over fellow Germans exercising their right to vote.

🚨🇩🇪Left wingers riot in Germany after the pro-Russian Alternative for Germany (AFD) party wins key elections in former East Germany.

The German Government has been exposed directly coordinating protests and persecution against the AFD here: https://t.co/qECE6SfJhp pic.twitter.com/tHNtDmW4BG

— Aussie Cossack (@aussiecossack) September 1, 2024

Much as you'd expect.

Following tonight's exit polls showing AfD surging in Germany and winning seats comfortably, especially amongst the young.

The far left are on the streets of Dresden throwing their toys out of the pram. pic.twitter.com/HflZzCX7xc

— Tommy Robinson 🇬🇧 (@TRobinsonNewEra) September 1, 2024

The spoiler in Thuringia is a newer, far-left party - Buendnis Sahra Wagenknecht - that split off from the Left only this past January, but does take a tougher line on immigration.

Oh, yay.

...Despite its victory in Thuringia, the AfD — which authorities have classified as right-wing extremist in both regions that voted Sunday — has no clear path to forming a government.

In Sunday’s voting, a new far-left party, the Buendnis Sahra Wagenknecht, was on 15.5% in Thuringia and 12% in Saxony, according to early projections. Founded only in January after Wagenknecht split from the Left party, it’s likely to play a key role in attempts by mainstream parties to keep the AfD out of power in Thuringia.

That's where things stand as of this afternoon. What will AfD be able to manage against the combined forces of the German state, the machinations bred into a parliamentary system, and the determined opposition from their EU overlords who are terrified of the populist uprisings across the continent?

...Alice Weidel, a co-leader of the AfD, called the party’s performance “historic” and “a requiem” for the coalition in Berlin and said voters clearly want the AfD in government as the strongest party in Thuringia.

Scholz is up against a national election next year and running himself out of time on the clock and citizens to call Nazis. 

Weak gestures like banning knives, sending out the ill-mannered progressive street performers, and mouthing platitudes aren't the answer as Germany crashes around him.

BEEGE UPDATE: After clarifying the "glitch," it turns out AfD lost one seat, as did the Christian Democrats (CDU), which conveniently impacts their status not a whit but looks really fair on paper.

🇩🇪 NEW: Alleged software error in Germany means the AfD and CDU both lose one seat in Saxony.

That seat was important for the AfD, as it provided the party with a "blocking minority" during crucial votes that require a two-thirds majority. pic.twitter.com/kqmCw3nLdR

— Remix News & Views (@RMXnews) September 2, 2024