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Germany’s Far-Right AfD Secures First State Election Victory, Faces Coalition Rejection from Mainstream Parties

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Bjoern Hoecke the top candidate for the Alternative for Germany party in the Thuringia regional elections attending a TV debate at Thuringias State Parliament in Erfurt Germany on Sept 1 2024
The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party has won a state election for the first time, according to projections released on Sunday, marking a significant milestone in the country’s political landscape.

Victory occurred in the eastern state of Thuringia, where AfD was projected to secure 32-33% of the vote, outpacing the mainstream centre-right Christian Democratic Union (CDU), which garnered around 24%.

Bjoern Hoecke, the top candidate for the Alternative for Germany party in the Thuringia regional elections, attending a TV debate at Thuringia's State Parliament in Erfurt, Germany on Sept. 1, 2024.

Bjoern Hoecke, the top candidate for the Alternative for Germany party in the Thuringia regional elections, attended a TV debate at Thuringia’s State Parliament in Erfurt, Germany, on Sept. 1, 2024. Photo by RONNY HARTMANN/AFP via Getty Images

The AfD was also set to make a strong showing in a separate election in neighbouring Saxony. It came in at a very close second with 30.6-31.4% of the vote, just behind the CDU, which has led the state since German reunification in 1990, with 31.7%.

“This is a historic success for us,” said AfD’s national co-leader Alice Weidel in response to the Thuringia results. She described the outcome as a “requiem” for Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s coalition government, struggling with low approval ratings and internal strife.

The rise of AfD, an openly right-wing extremist party, to the top of a state parliament is unprecedented in post-war Germany. It has raised alarms among other political groups. Omid Nouripour, a leader of the Greens, one of the national governing parties, expressed deep concern, stating that the result has caused “deep concern and fear” among many people.

AfD co-leader Alice Weidel speaking in Erfurt ahead of the election on Aug. 31, 2024.

AfD co-leader Alice Weidel spoke in Erfurt before the election on Aug. 31, 2024. Photo by JOHN MACDOUGALL/AFP via Getty Images

Despite AfD’s growing support, other political parties have reiterated their stance against forming coalitions with the far-right party. Carsten Linnemann, the CDU’s national general secretary, confirmed that his party would not work with AfD, a position that has been a longstanding policy. “Voters in both states knew that we wouldn’t form a coalition with AfD, and it will stay that way,” Linnemann said.

Adding to the complexity of the political landscape, a new leftist party, the Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance (BSW), made a significant impact in its first election. The party, founded by prominent leftist Sahra Wagenknecht, was projected to capture up to 16% of the vote in Thuringia and 12% in Saxony. Wagenknecht celebrated the results as an “unprecedented success for a new party” and expressed her intention to form a “good government” with the CDU. However, she ruled out any collaboration with AfD.

AfD supporters at a rally in Dresden on Aug. 29, 2024.

AfD supporters at a rally in Dresden on Aug. 29, 2024. Getty Images

Thuringia’s politics have become particularly intricate as the Left Party, which previously led a minority government under outgoing governor Bodo Ramelow, has seen a dramatic decline in support. The party’s vote share plummeted to around 12%, losing nearly two-thirds of its support from five years ago. Wagenknecht’s new party, BSW, has outperformed the Left, further complicating the formation of any new government in the state.

The election results reflect widespread discontent with Chancellor Scholz’s national government, particularly in the former communist east, where the AfD is strongest. Contributing factors to the AfD’s rise include deep dissatisfaction with the national government, anti-immigration sentiment, and scepticism toward Germany’s military support for Ukraine.

A protest against the AfD in Erfurt on Aug. 31, 2024.

A protest against the AfD in Erfurt on Aug. 31, 2024. CLEMENS BILAN/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

Germany’s next national election is just over a year away, and the results in Thuringia and Saxony could foreshadow significant challenges for Scholz’s government. The situation is further complicated by an upcoming state election in Brandenburg, another eastern state currently led by Scholz’s Social Democrats.

A protesters wearing a sign calling Björn Höcke a Nazi in Erfurt on Sept. 1, 2024.

Protesters wearing a sign calling Björn Höcke a Nazi in Erfurt on Sept. 1, 2024. REUTERS/Christian Mang

In a broader context, AfD’s success taps into growing anti-immigration sentiment across the region, which has been exacerbated by recent events such as the knife attack in Solingen. The attack, allegedly carried out by a Syrian extremist, has reignited debates over immigration policy in Germany, with both AfD and Wagenknecht’s BSW advocating for stricter measures.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz at the SPD rally in Chemnitz on Aug. 30, 2024.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz at the SPD rally in Chemnitz on Aug. 30, 2024. Hendrik Schmidt/dpa via AP

Under pressure from AfD’s gains, the CDU has also intensified its calls for a tougher national stance on immigration. Additionally, Germany’s role in the Ukraine conflict remains a contentious issue, particularly in the east, where both AfD and BSW oppose Berlin’s strong support for Kyiv, including the delivery of weapons.

Germany's "Buendnis Sahra Wagenknecht" party leader Sahra Wagenknecht speaking in Erfurt on Sept. 1, 2024.

Germany’s “Buendnis Sahra Wagenknecht” party leader Sahra Wagenknecht is speaking in Erfurt on Sept. 1, 2024. REUTERS

As Germany navigates these turbulent political waters, the rise of AfD and the emergence of new parties like BSW suggest that the country’s political landscape is becoming increasingly fragmented, with potential implications for the future stability of state and national governments.

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Dan Olczak
"Editor with expertise in politics and crime, also known for travel blogging."

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