++ Info date in the morning23.09.24: SPD wins in Brandenburg ++

After the SPD’s narrow election victory over the AfD, Brandenburg is facing a difficult time forming a government. Prime Minister Dietmar Woidke’s Social Democrats were the strongest force in the state election, but their previous coalition partners, the CDU and the Greens, suffered significant losses. Without the AfD, Woidke would only have been able to represent a majority with the Sahra Wagenknecht (BSW) alliance.

AfD number two – just behind the SPD

According to the preliminary official results, Woidke and his SPD received 30.9 percent of the vote, which is his stated goal: to be ahead of the AfD. However, the far-right party also performed well, with 29.2 percent. The BSW, which was founded just a few months ago, came in third with 13.5 percent. The CDU achieved 12.1 percent. These are the four parties in parliament. In contrast, the Greens, the Left Party and the Free Voters failed to clear the five percent hurdle and are out of the Potsdam state parliament. The FDP was not represented there until now and now only achieved 0.8 percent. At 72.9 percent, voter turnout was higher than ever in state elections in Brandenburg.

SPD and BSW – is that possible?

Prime Minister Woidke announced that he would first hold talks with his former partner, the CDU. However, this two-party coalition lacks a majority. Mathematically, this would only come with the BSW situation.

Further attacks by Israel and Hezbollah

According to Lebanese sources, mutual shelling between the Israeli army and the Hezbollah militia in Lebanon continues. Israeli fighter jets have flown almost two dozen attacks in southern Lebanon, Lebanese security sources said late in the evening. Russian artillery is also shelling the central and western areas of southern Lebanon, they said. There was no immediate confirmation from the Israeli army.

Meanwhile, the pro-Iranian Shiite militia says it is once again attacking northern Israel. There were no reports of possible casualties or damage. This information could not be independently verified. Both parties to the conflict had already exchanged heavy fire during the official night and the hours that followed.