By just over 500 votes, the city of Aue-Bad Schlema, in eastern Germany, avoided electing a neo-Nazi candidate. Stefan Hartung was defeated by the conservative Marcus Hoffmann in the second round, which took place on Sunday (7).
Hoffmann was victorious with 5,007 votes, while Hartung had 4,499, a difference of 508 votes and around 5 percentage points in the final result. Despite the defeat, the extremist candidate had received the most votes in the first round, with 29% of valid votes in the city of 19 thousand inhabitants.
Stefan Hartung contested the election for Freien Sachsen, which, in translation, means “Free Saxons”. The party, founded in 2021, is monitored by the German internal intelligence service due to its proximity to extremist ideals, such as the departure of Saxony from Germany.
According to information from Deutsche Welle Brasilthe acronym brings together several groups in the extremist scene in Germany, including separatists and neo-Nazis. The party’s strategy is centered on calling for demonstrations across Saxony to mobilize extremist and anti-political protests.
During the campaign, the candidate preached the role of vigilantes to expel asylum seekers and refugees. Hartung also reiterates the party’s ideals, which is contrary to the idea of a Federal Republic and does not commit to swearing and respecting the current Constitution.
Previously, Hartung belonged to the National Democratic Party of Germany, which in 2023 was renamed Heimat (Fatherland). The acronym is also considered by the German government to be a neo-Nazi party.
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The city of Aue-Bad Schlema is in the state of Saxony, a region that has been largely won by right-wing and far-right parties in elections.
