Germany's eastern states, long a crucible for discontent, have now become the frontline in a battle for the soul of the nation. The stunning success of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) in Thuringia's state election is more than just a local triumph; it's a clarion call that should echo across the whole of Europe. For the first time in post-World War II Germany, a far-right party has won a state election, and the repercussions could be profound.
AfD's victory in Thuringia, where it garnered nearly a third of the vote, is not merely a reflection of local frustrations—it's a symptom of a broader, more dangerous malaise. This party, rooted in xenophobia and nurtured by a growing disdain for established political norms, has successfully tapped into the fears and frustrations of a region that feels increasingly alienated from the rest of Germany. The specter of an openly right-wing extremist party rising to power should send shivers down the spine of anyone who cherishes the values of democracy and tolerance that Germany has painstakingly rebuilt since the fall of the Third Reich.
The mainstream parties, particularly Chancellor Olaf Scholz's Social Democrats (SPD), have only themselves to blame. Their dithering, infighting, and failure to address the pressing concerns of ordinary Germans—be it immigration, economic inequality, or the increasingly unpopular support for Ukraine—have left a vacuum that AfD has eagerly filled. The traditional political establishment's reluctance to adapt and its stubborn refusal to engage with the growing discontent in the east have only fueled the fire.
The situation in Thuringia is particularly alarming because of the man at the helm of AfD there: Björn Höcke. A figure under surveillance by Germany's domestic intelligence agency for his extremist views, Höcke embodies the very worst of the far-right resurgence. Yet, he now leads the most popular party in the state. His defiant response to criticism—"Please stop stigmatizing me. We are the No. 1 party in Thuringia"—is as chilling as it is revealing. The rise of AfD under such a leader should be a wake-up call for anyone who believes that Germany is immune to the allure of authoritarianism.
The emergence of Sahra Wagenknecht's new party, the BSW, adds another layer of complexity to an already volatile political landscape. While Wagenknecht's platform of left-wing economics combined with anti-immigration rhetoric might seem like an odd mix, it resonates deeply with a population that feels left behind by globalization and disillusioned with the established left. Her success, though not as shocking as AfD's, still signals a significant shift in Germany's political dynamics—one that the traditional parties would be foolish to ignore.
The consequences of these elections are not confined to Thuringia or Saxony. They threaten to reverberate through the entire country, complicating coalition-building and pushing mainstream parties further to the fringes as they scramble to hold on to power. The CDU's refusal to work with either AfD or the Left Party, coupled with its tentative openness to Wagenknecht's BSW, reveals the deep political fractures that now run through Germany.
As Germany heads into another state election later this month and then prepares for national elections next year, the question that must be asked is whether the country can hold the line against the rising tide of far-right extremism. If the results in Thuringia and Saxony are any indication, that line is perilously close to breaking.
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