Germany’s far-right party, the Alternative for Germany (AfD), has emerged as a major victor in the eastern state of Thuringia.
According to projections from public broadcaster ARD, the AfD is poised to secure nearly a third of the votes, leading the conservative CDU by nine points and significantly outpacing the three parties that currently govern Germany.
This marks the first instance since World War Two that the far right has won a state parliament election, though it is unlikely to form a government in Thuringia.
In another significant state election in Saxony, the AfD finished a strong second, trailing the CDU by just a point, with the CDU garnering almost 32% of the vote.
Björn Höcke, the AfD’s lead candidate in Thuringia and a figure of considerable controversy in Germany, declared this win a “historic victory” and expressed immense pride. Despite not securing a direct mandate, Höcke might still obtain a seat from his party’s list.
Höcke’s party has been labeled right-wing extremist, and he has faced penalties for using a Nazi slogan, which he denies was intentional.
On the anniversary of the start of World War Two, Holocaust survivor Charlotte Knobloch remarked that the election result threatens the stability and livability of Germany.
Looking towards the federal elections next year, where the AfD ranks second in the polls, co-leader Alice Weidel described the outcome as signaling the end for the ruling parties and emphasized the electorate’s desire for her party’s role in governance.
Höcke also suggested that many CDU supporters would welcome a coalition with the AfD, despite the CDU’s stance against aligning with the far right.
Even without the support of other parties, the AfD will not be able to govern Thuringia alone; the CDU will likely need support from left-wing parties to form a majority.
In Sunday’s elections, a significant number of young voters in Thuringia supported the AfD, highlighting immigration as a critical concern.
AfD voter Michael expressed dissatisfaction with the unfulfilled promises of other parties concerning migration issues, affirming his support for the AfD.
Just a week before the elections, a tragic incident in Solingen involving a Syrian man suspected of murder reignited the national debate on asylum policies, with AfD deputy leader Beatrix von Storch criticizing the timing of sudden government action on asylum laws.
The AfD also opposes arms shipments to Ukraine, a stance shared by the new left-wing populist party, BSW, led by Sahra Wagenknecht, which, despite its similarities with the AfD on Ukraine, refuses to form a coalition with the far right.
If the current projections hold, the AfD will control 32 seats in the 88-seat Thuringia parliament, achieving a blocking minority for decisions needing a two-thirds majority.
In Saxony, the CDU is expected to slightly lead over the AfD, while Wagenknecht’s party will hold the third position.
Sunday’s elections have highlighted the unpopularity of Germany’s ruling “traffic-light” coalition. This coalition is named after the colours of the parties involved: red, yellow, and green.
In three weeks, a third eastern state, Brandenburg, is scheduled to hold its vote. While the AfD currently leads in the opinion polls, the Social Democrats and conservatives are trailing by only a few points.
