The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) is celebrating what it calls a “historic success” following a significant electoral victory in the eastern state of Thuringia.
The AfD secured nearly a third of the vote, finishing nine points ahead of the conservative Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and outpacing Germany’s three governing parties by a substantial margin.
This result marks the first time since World War II that the far right has won the popular vote in a German state parliament. Despite this historic win, the AfD faces an uphill battle in forming a government in Thuringia due to the lack of support from other political parties.
In a parallel election in neighboring Saxony, the AfD came within just over a percentage point of the CDU, underscoring its growing influence in Germany’s eastern regions. The CDU garnered 31.9% of the vote, while the AfD captured 30.8%, again leaving the governing parties—the Social Democrats (SPD), Greens, and liberal FDP—far behind.
Björn Höcke, the AfD’s top candidate in Thuringia, who is a controversial figure in German politics, hailed the election result as a “historic victory.” Although Höcke reportedly failed to secure a direct mandate, his position at the top of the party list ensures he will still hold a seat in the Thuringia state parliament.
Höcke, a former history teacher, has been designated a right-wing extremist and fined for using a Nazi slogan—a charge he denies.
The AfD’s rise has been met with concern across Germany, particularly from figures such as Holocaust survivor Charlotte Knobloch, who warned that the election results could make the country “more unstable, colder and poorer, less safe and less worth living in.” Knobloch noted the significance of the election taking place 85 years after the start of World War II, emphasizing the potential dangers of the far-right’s growing influence.
As federal elections approach next year, the AfD is now polling second nationwide. Co-leader Alice Weidel described the Thuringia results as a “requiem” for the ruling “traffic-light” coalition of the SPD, Greens, and FDP, arguing that the electorate in eastern Germany clearly favors the AfD’s inclusion in government. Weidel and Höcke have both suggested that collaboration with the CDU is possible, although the CDU has firmly ruled out any partnership with the far-right party.
Without alliances with other parties, the AfD cannot govern in Thuringia, forcing the CDU to look to left-wing parties to form a majority. The AfD’s victory has also given it a blocking minority on decisions requiring a two-thirds majority, such as amendments to the state constitution or the appointment of judges.
The electoral victories have emphasised the declining popularity of Germany’s national government. Anti-AfD protests have erupted outside the Thuringia state parliament, with demonstrators like local student Hannah expressing deep concern over the normalization of extremist ideologies. The AfD’s continued classification as a right-wing extremist group by Germany’s domestic intelligence agencies adds to the controversy surrounding its electoral gains.
In the wake of the election, Sahra Wagenknecht’s new left-wing populist party, BSW, also made a notable impact, finishing third in both Thuringia and Saxony. However, like other parties, Wagenknecht has refused to entertain any coalition with the AfD.
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