Germany’s far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party is celebrating what it has called a “historic success” in the eastern state of Thuringia. According to projections from public broadcaster ARD, the AfD is on course to win nearly a third of the vote in the state election, putting it nine points ahead of the conservative Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and far ahead of the three parties forming the national government: the Social Democrats, the Greens, and the liberal Free Democratic Party (FDP).
This result marks the first time since World War Two that a far-right party could claim a vote win in a state parliament in Germany. However, despite this significant electoral milestone, the AfD faces a stark political reality: the party has little chance of forming a government in Thuringia without the support of other political parties, which appears highly unlikely given the firm opposition from mainstream parties to collaborate with the far right.
A Regional Surge Reflects National Trends
The AfD’s success in Thuringia echoes broader trends across Germany, especially in the eastern regions, where the party has been gaining ground steadily. In the neighboring state of Saxony, the AfD narrowly missed out on first place, with projections showing the CDU ahead by just one percentage point, securing 32% of the vote compared to the AfD’s 31%. Both results highlight the party’s growing appeal, particularly in areas that have felt economically and culturally marginalized since reunification.
The AfD’s Thuringia top candidate, Björn Höcke, hailed the election outcome as a “historic victory,” reflecting the deepening support for the party’s anti-immigration and nationalist agenda. Höcke, a controversial figure who has been fined for using Nazi slogans, has frequently been at the center of Germany’s debates on the far right’s place in modern politics. Despite this, his popularity among certain voter bases continues to grow.
Implications for German Politics
The electoral success of the AfD in Thuringia raises significant questions about the future political landscape in Germany. With federal elections just a year away, the AfD is currently polling second in national surveys, a position that is causing concern among the country’s traditional parties. Co-leader of the AfD, Alice Weidel, framed the results as a “requiem” for the three parties currently governing Germany, asserting that the desire for change was clear: “Without us a stable government is no longer possible at all,” she declared.
However, forming a government with the AfD remains a red line for many parties, particularly the CDU, which has repeatedly ruled out any cooperation with the far right. Despite Höcke’s suggestions that there are CDU voters who would welcome collaboration between the two parties, the CDU has stood firm in its refusal to entertain such an alliance.
A Divisive Moment in German History
The election also took place on a symbolic date, marking 85 years since the outbreak of World War Two. Charlotte Knobloch, a prominent Holocaust survivor and president of the Jewish Community in Munich and Upper Bavaria, voiced her deep concerns about the election’s outcome, warning that it could lead Germany toward becoming “more unstable, colder and poorer, less safe and less worth living in.”
The AfD’s rise in Thuringia underscores a broader shift in parts of German society, where disillusionment with mainstream politics has driven voters towards more extreme alternatives. The election results not only reflect a regional discontent but also signal a potential reshaping of German politics as the AfD continues to gain traction on the national stage.
As Germany moves closer to its next federal elections, the AfD’s momentum raises critical questions about the country’s political future and the challenges that lie ahead in maintaining a cohesive and inclusive democratic society.
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