Here, half vote for the extreme AFD

The EU election

Here, the far-right AFD rules for the first time

The cry at the election meeting: "Raus, raus!"

Wolfgang Hansson

Published 15.55

SONNEBERG, GERMANY. The city in eastern Germany used to be known as the toy factory of the world.

Today, fame is of a different nature.

Sonneberg is the first city where the far-right party AFD governs.

- If you read the newspapers, you could think that we are all Nazis, but that is not true, complains Andreas Müller.

Quick version

•  Sonneberg in Germany is the first city where the far-right party AFD governs, which has caused international attention.
•  Local residents believe that the government's priorities should be on local problems rather than EU issues. Some express concern that their city is impoverished and has lost its former industry.
• Although AFD is considered a controversial party, many residents support the party and hope for its success in the EU elections.

He has set up his children's carousel in the square next to the city's shopping strip. A lone girl rides around, around on one of the fairground horses.

Sonneberg does not justify his name this afternoon. It's raining heavily and the center is more or less deserted even though it's Saturday.

Andreas Müller, 75, walks over to the carousel and shuts it off so there will be no short circuit.

The EU elections do not interest him very much.

- Of course it is important in a way, but I think there is too much talk about Europe. It is more important to fix things here in Germany. The German government is a disaster. Everything has become enormously more expensive in the past year. Although AFD is considered a controversial party, many residents support the party and hope for its success in the EU elections.

 

1 / 2Photo: Stefan Jerrevång

Next to the carousel is an open cart where he and his wife sell candied almonds and wrapped gingerbread with beautiful decorations.

Just under a year ago, Robert Sesselman from Alternativ för Deutschland, AFD, was elected the highest responsible for the local government. Sesselmann won with 53 percent of the vote. This despite the fact that all the other parties came together and agreed around an opposition candidate.

It is the first time that someone from the far-right party has been elected to a position of power in Germany. The election received a lot of attention both in Germany and internationally.

Portrayed as Nazis

Andreas Müller doesn't really understand why.

- Everyone was terrified when it happened, but in practice it hasn't meant much, he notes. After all, the voters are ordinary people, good people and not some kind of monster. It is portrayed as if everyone who lives here is a Nazi, and that is not true.

The rain picks up and he moves under the awning of the sales cart.

- I think AFD will get many votes in the EU elections. They have great support here.

The wife mutters agreement from behind the counter.

 

The election received a lot of attention both in Germany and internationally.
1 / 2Photo: Stefan Jerrevång

We go out to one of the apartment building areas on the outskirts of Sonneberg. The fact that the five-storey buildings have been spruced up with new plaster and colorful balconies cannot hide the feeling of an old eastern state.

On a street corner stands Marcus Scheller, 41, buying cigarettes from a vending machine. He definitely intends to vote in the EU elections and there is no doubt which party will get his vote even if he doesn't mention its name once.

- I intend to vote for the party that puts Germany first. A party that helps its own people before spending a lot of money on other things.

On a lamp post not far away hangs an election poster from AFD with the slogan "Our country first".