this post was submitted on 07 Sep 2026
556 points (98.8% liked)

World News

58005 readers
1394 users here now

A community for discussing events around the World

Rules:

Similarly, if you see posts along these lines, do not engage. Report them, block them, and live a happier life than they do. We see too many slapfights that boil down to "Mom! He's bugging me!" and "I'm not touching you!" Going forward, slapfights will result in removed comments and temp bans to cool off.

We ask that the users report any comment or post that violate the rules, to use critical thinking when reading, posting or commenting. Users that post off-topic spam, advocate violence, have multiple comments or posts removed, weaponize reports or violate the code of conduct will be banned.

All posts and comments will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis. This means that some content that violates the rules may be allowed, while other content that does not violate the rules may be removed. The moderators retain the right to remove any content and ban users.


Lemmy World Partners

News !news@lemmy.world

Politics !politics@lemmy.world

World Politics !globalpolitics@lemmy.world

Ask Historians !askhistorians@lemmy.world


Recommendations

For Firefox users, there is media bias / propaganda / fact check plugin.

https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/media-bias-fact-check/

founded 3 years ago
MODERATORS
 

Mainstream politicians express alarm while lead candidate in Saxony-Anhalt welcomes congratulations from Elon Musk

Mainstream politicians around Europe have expressed alarm after the far-right Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) swept to a historic state election victory in Germany, while nationalist figures cheered the result as a mandate for change.

While falling just short of an absolute majority, the AfD surged into first place in the Saxony-Anhalt state election on Sunday, exit polls ⁠showed, putting the far right within reach ​of power at ‌the state level for ‌the first time since the second world war.

you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments
[–] anon_8675309@lemmy.world 14 points 2 days ago (2 children)

Did Elon touch the voting system?

[–] SkaveRat@discuss.tchncs.de 10 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago) (2 children)

Doubtful. The German voting system is quite solid with multiple people checking ballot counting at each step. Citizens can also witness the counting of they want to

The state in question is just one of a couple that always voted quite rightwing. It's nothing new

Also, the system is way too old for Elon to have any interest in touching it

[–] Breadhax0r@lemmy.world 7 points 1 day ago (1 children)

The interesting thing is that he doesnt even have to touch the voting system itself, all of social media is controlled by techno fascists so (basically) all they have to do is boost their own messaging while downplaying opposing messages. Control the voters control the vote.

[–] Auli@lemmy.ca 3 points 1 day ago

Not to mention drop some pocket change in the right places.

[–] Kiwi_fella@lemmy.world 1 points 2 days ago (2 children)

I'm interested in your statement about this state being one of a couple that always vote right wing. "Nothing new" is how you ended that bit. The way it comes across in the media and commentary is that this is quite a significant thing, so I'm wondering if this is actually worrying or media hype? Thoughts? I've also heard that AfD is polling well across Germany in general, so is this taken into account in the media and your statement?

Because we are internet strangers, I just want you to know I'm actually interested in what you said and your opinion, with no intent of attacking you.

For reference, in Baden-Württemberg, AfD almost got second place in state election. They got barely less than CDU and came third with about 20%. BW is south west Germany btw. They have been getting votes from everywhere.

[–] SkaveRat@discuss.tchncs.de 1 points 1 day ago

I mean, it is quite significant and quite worrying, just not something extremely surprising

For the party, it is their biggest result by far, as basically every second voter voted for them. Most of the gain comes from voters who voted for the right-wing CDU before, just not extreme-right like the afd

The biggest worry is what they will try to do on a state level and how other parties try to shift their policies to appease more towards the afd voters. Especially CDU has drifted more and more right over the last couple years in the hopes of getting back afd-voters, but they just ended up legitimizing the talking points that the afd has.

"luckily" the results are such a clusterfuck, that they can't create any meaningful coalition, which limits their power a bit. But also creates the potential to whine loudly about how mean everyone else is, and steer more voters to the party on a national level

also, yes. the party is gaining more and more popularity nation-wide. it's... a shitshow.

but tbh, my biggest worry is the absolute clown of a bundeskanzler we have, who is trying his best to compete with the other world leaders in his pure incompetence and idiocy

other than that, rewboss did a great video about the election, and what it means:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aggmXyY3Se0

[–] Cheebus@lemmy.world 4 points 2 days ago (2 children)

They need to investigate this yesterday. I believe Musk meddles big time

No way humanity is actually that bad

[–] SpongyAneurysm@feddit.org 6 points 2 days ago

Pretty much impossible to do. The voting system in Germany is fairly analog. It's all done on paper.
The only electronic part, that could be hacked, is when the do quick reports of the results that are being used for reporting on the day of the election. But discrepancies would come to light very soon.

So I highly doubt direct interference with the election. But I'm sure he has a big influence on the propaganda that's going on, and that is problematic enough.

I don't know about the people being bad. They are certainly misled, and I would have liked to bring that up as a defense. But it also says something about them, if they let themselves be misled by obvious arseholes.

[–] Auli@lemmy.ca 1 points 1 day ago

I mean yes yes we are. This time period we have been is is the anomaly if talking span of time.