Image of protest signs in Germany. Germany's Far-Right Party

Neve Dawson

For the first time since 1945, Germany’s Far-Right Party, Alternative für Deutschland (AfD), has won in a regional election.

The far-right Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) – or Alternative for Germany – have won the state parliamentary election in the region of Thuringia.

Held on Monday 2nd September, the AfD won 32.8 per cent of the vote in Thuringia – although the group has little hope of forming a government due to the other parties’ reluctance to collaborate with them. The conservative Christian Democratic Union (CDU), runners-up in the Thuringia election, have publicly ruled out working with the AfD.

In the more populous state of Saxony, the AfD narrowly lost to the the CDU with 30.6 per cent of the vote, compared to the winner’s 31.9 per cent.

In Brandenburg, the state surrounding Berlin, the AfD are expected to emerge as one of the strongest parties later this month.

As such, recent polls are now suggesting the far-right group could become the second largest in the Bundestag – Germany’s national parliament.

REACTIONS TO RESULTS

The AfD’s victory in Thuringia comes at a time of growing concern regarding the rise of far-right politics in Europe.

Speaking to German broadcaster ARD, AfD co-chairwoman Alice Weidel hailed the results in Thuringia as a “historic success.” Björn Höcke, the AfD’s main man in Thuringia, claimed he felt “a great, great deal of pride.”

Höcke is a controversial figure in Germany, known for his leadership of far-right faction Der Flügel (The Wing), which was declared a suspected right-wing extremist organisation in 2020. In June 2023, Höcke was officially indicted for his use of a Nazi slogan at a campaign event in 2021.

Not all responses to the AfD’s victory have been positive.

“It is weakening the economy, dividing society and ruining our country’s reputation.”

With federal elections scheduled to take place in September 2025, the far-right party’s success is a significant blow to the coalition of German Chancellor, Olaf Scholz.

Currently governing nationally, alongside the Greens and Liberal Free Democrats (FDP), Mr Scholz’s centre-left Social Democratic Party (SPD) gained weak results in the regional elections.

Scholz told Reuters: “The results for the AfD in Saxony and Thuringia are worrying.”

“The AfD is damaging Germany. It is weakening the economy, dividing society and ruining our country’s reputation,” he said.

WHO ARE Germany’s Far-Right Party?

Established in 2013, the AfD are a right-wing populist party led by Tino Chrupalla and Alice Weidel. The party’s policies are strongly apposed to immigration and are mainly founded on the ideas of Euroscepticism.

First founded in opposition to the bailouts of indebted EU members states, the party has become a foremost anti-immigration party. Specifically, the AfD strongly opposed Angela Merkel’s welcoming policy towards refugees, particularly those arriving from the Arab world.

a large group of people holding up signs
Image courtesy of  Christian Lue on Unsplash. No changes made to this image. Image license found here.

The slogan „Wir schaffen das!“ – “We can do this” – accompanied Ms Merkel’s policy. The manifesto was soon challenged by the AfD who continue to demand a change to the country’s constitution regarding asylum cases and deportation.

In terms of the EU, the AfD wants to seal the country’s borders. They want to prevent migration from the root by constructing camps abroad. Known to be staunchly Islamophobic, the party say they want to stop the “Islamisation” of Germany. Certain branches of the party are also known to be anti-semitic and openly racist.

IS THE AFD’S VICTORY A BY-PRODUCT OF THE DISPARITIES BETWEEN EAST AND WEST GERMANY?

Located in the former east, Thuringia serves as just one example of an increasingly divided Germany. This is despite the immense reunification measures implemented following the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989.

The recent election results raise serious questions about the reasons for, and existence of, Germany’s far-right political identity.

Many assume the rise in far-right populist beliefs stem from east Germany’s economic inferiority to the former west. Thus, many still cite disparities in income and employment as primary causes for the AfD’s victory.

“Steffen Mau argues that east Germany votes differently to the west as to claim its own distinct identity following the reunification.”

According to the German Federal Bank, the annual salary in western Germany was more than €12,000 higher than in eastern Germany. In the Länder (states) located in the former east, the AfD is known to have a particularly strong presence among rural communities, who struggle with shrinking populations, high emigration rates and poor access to public services.

Further problems

More widely, it is acknowledged that public support for the AfD’s anti-immigration policies are a form of scapegoating, with some blaming migrants and ethnic minorities for the country’s own economic problems.

On the other hand, as referenced by Philip Oltermann of The Guardian, sociologist Steffen Mau argues that east Germany votes differently to the west as to claim its own distinct identity following the reunification.

“As the far-right continue to capitalise on fears about immigration, those most vulnerable within the country are choosing parties promising drastic change.”

However, as stated by German government commissioner Carsten Schneider, the rise of the AfD is “not purely an East German problem.” Greater economic investment, communication from the bottom-up and a greater sense of local as well as national community could all help the stagnated rapprochement between east and west, subsequently tackling the rise in populist beliefs.

Put simply, Germany is in a state of confusion. As the far-right continue to capitalise on fears about immigration, those most vulnerable within the country are choosing parties promising drastic change.

But as demonstrated by the wave of anti-far-right protests that took place earlier this year, many Germans remain loyal to the mantra founded following the collapse of the Nazi regime: „Nie Wieder“ .. Never Again. 

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Featured image courtesy of Mika Baumeister on Unsplash. No changes made to this image. Image license found here.

MA Newspaper Journalism Student at City, University of London| News, Culture and Arts Journalist for DIY Magazine, Empoword Journalism, So Young Magazine and The Rodeo Magazine.

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