Germany’s far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) has achieved a historic victory in the eastern state of Thuringia, winning nearly a third of the vote and surpassing the conservative Christian Democratic Union (CDU) by nine points. This marks the AfD’s first win in a state parliament election since World War Two, although its path to forming a government remains blocked due to a lack of coalition support from other parties.
In Thuringia, the AfD secured 32 out of 88 seats in the state parliament, while the CDU won 23 seats. The result provides the AfD with a significant presence, including a blocking minority on decisions requiring a two-thirds majority, such as constitutional amendments and judicial appointments. Despite this, the AfD faces obstacles in forming a government as other parties are unlikely to collaborate with the far-right group.
The AfD also performed strongly in the neighboring state of Saxony, where it came a close second to the CDU, which secured 31.9% of the vote. The AfD’s performance in both states highlights growing dissatisfaction with Germany’s ruling coalition, known as the “traffic-light” coalition, comprising the Social Democrats (SPD), Greens, and the liberal FDP.
Chancellor Olaf Scholz condemned the election results as “bitter,” emphasizing that the AfD’s rise threatens Germany’s stability and reputation. Scholz called on other mainstream parties to form state governments without the AfD’s involvement, labeling the party’s influence as damaging to the nation’s economy and societal cohesion.
Björn Höcke, the AfD’s top candidate in Thuringia, celebrated the result as a “historic victory” and expressed pride in his party’s achievement. Although Höcke did not win a direct mandate, he secured a seat due to his position at the top of the party list. Höcke’s controversial rhetoric and past use of Nazi slogans have drawn criticism, but he remains a prominent figure within the AfD.
The election results come 85 years to the day since the outbreak of World War Two, prompting Holocaust survivor Charlotte Knobloch to express concerns about the country’s increasing instability and divisiveness.
In Saxony, the CDU won 42 seats, narrowly ahead of the AfD with 41 seats, while Sahra Wagenknecht’s new populist party, BSW, secured 15 seats. Wagenknecht’s party shares some policy positions with the AfD, including opposition to arms supplies to Ukraine, but has refused to enter a coalition with the far-right group.
The AfD’s gains in both states reflect growing dissatisfaction with the current government and have set the stage for a potentially contentious election in Brandenburg, where voting is scheduled in three weeks.
Amidst the celebrations, anti-AfD protests have erupted in Thuringia, with demonstrators expressing alarm over the far-right party’s growing influence. The AfD has been classified as right-wing extremist by domestic intelligence agencies, further fueling concerns about the normalization of extremist policies in Germany.
