The small town of Aue-Bad Schlema rarely makes headlines in Germany. Located in the Ore Mountains near the German-Czech border in southeastern Saxony, it is surrounded by picturesque forests and is far removed from the bustle of the big cities.
In this old mining region, people are deeply connected to their roots and take pride in preserving traditions such as brass band music, nutcrackers and the famous ornamental Christmas pyramids.
The near-victory of a candidate from a party officially classified as far-right-extremist has had lingering effects in Aue-Bad Schlema, in southeastern Saxony.
"When you walk through the town today, you see cheerful people. But that can be misleading," Jürgen Freitag told DW. Freitag is an editor with Freie Presse (Free Press), a newspaper covering the Ore Mountains. "Appearances can be deceptive,' Freitag said. "I perceive the town's mood as divided."
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