AfD Secures First City Mayoral Election in Germany

Tim Lochner's Victory in Pirna Marks a Milestone for the Far-Right Party Amid Rising Popularity

Tim Lochner, an independent candidate backed by the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD), won the mayoral election in Pirna, Saxony, marking the first time the AfD has secured a mayoral position in a city.
The victory is seen as a significant milestone for the AfD, which is gaining popularity across Germany, particularly in the eastern states.
Lochner won with 38.5% of the vote in a three-way runoff, defeating candidates from the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and the conservative Free Voters.
The AfD's victory comes despite the party being recently labeled as 'extremist' by Saxony's intelligence services.
The win is seen as a bellwether for key state and local elections next year, where the AfD is expected to perform strongly.