Die Linke's Mustafa Groener Wins Direct Mandate in Saxony-Anhalt Despite Party's Worst Result Since 1990

In Saxony-Anhalt's state election, Die Linke recorded its weakest result in the state since 1990, taking 8.6 percent, while the AfD reached nearly 44 percent. Despite the party's overall losses, Die Linke secured three direct mandates: Jannik Balint in constituency Halle III, Gitta Hartenstein-Wiermann in Halle II, and Mustafa Groener in constituency Magdeburg II. Groener, born in 1999 and raised in a Plattenbau in Neu-Olvenstedt, works shifts for an elevator emergency service. He ran an intensive door-to-door campaign in his home city of Magdeburg, which proved successful. In an interview with der Freitag, Groener discusses why the AfD came close to an outright majority in Saxony-Anhalt while Die Linke remained in single digits. He is critical of his own party's campaign, arguing that making oneself blackmailable toward bourgeois parties is fatal. The interview was conducted by Sebastian Baehr for der Freitag.