Germany’s Dark Resurgence: How Far-Right Parties are Luring Young Minds with Anti-Immigration and Anti-War Rhetoric, Igniting Fears of a Populist Revival
The Rise of Far-Right Parties in Germany: A Growing Concern
The Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) party has made significant gains in two local elections in Germany, sparking international attention. The party’s growing strength in various elections over the last decade has raised concerns about the rise of extreme right-wing policies in the country.
AfD’s Breakthrough in State Elections
The AfD’s breakthrough was in the state elections held on September 1, 2024, in the states of Thuringia and Saxony, both in the former East German region.
In Thuringia, the AfD won the number one position with around 33% of the vote, a resounding victory over the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) in second place, with a difference of nine points. This is the first time that the AfD has become the largest party in a national election. In Saxony, the CDU came first with 41%, while the AfD came second by just one point.
Ten years ago, in 2014, the AfD’s vote share was around 10% in the parliamentary elections held in both states, but in 2019 it was in the mid-20% range, and this time it has increased rapidly to over 30%.
Implications of the Election Results
In Germany, there is a rule that parties with less than 5% of the vote cannot win seats. As a result, the decline of the established political parties was evident in Thuringia, with the Green Party losing no seats. On the other hand, the far-left party (BSW), which was formed recently this year, received more than 10% support in both states.
Germany has a federal system, and each of the 16 states is located as a “province.” All states basically follow a parliamentary system, where the parliament chooses the leader of the state, the prime minister, and approves the cabinet formed by the prime minister.
Chief ministers will also be chosen in the two states where elections were held this time. So far, the left has formed a minority governing party in the state of Thuringia, and in Saxony, a CDU prime minister has led a coalition government. Although the AfD made great strides in this election, it just didn’t have a majority.
However, the AfD now has de facto “veto power” on important issues that require a two-thirds majority, such as constitutional reforms. This is expected to make policy decisions difficult for the cabinets of both states.