By Smartencyclopedia with Agencies

BERLIN – Germany’s populist Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) has secured a groundbreaking victory in the Thuringia state election, marking the first time since World War II that a far-right party has won a state election in postwar Germany. The AfD garnered 32.8 percent of the vote, emerging as the leading party in Thuringia.

This victory in Thuringia was mirrored by significant success in the Saxony state election, where the AfD captured 30.6 percent of the vote, coming in just behind the center-right Christian Democratic Union (CDU), which led with 31.9 percent.

The AfD’s success in these eastern German states underscores the party’s growing influence, particularly in regions where dissatisfaction with mainstream parties has risen. The party’s campaigns in both states focused on stricter immigration policies, opposition to weapons provisions for Ukraine, and a strong stance against the federal government’s policies.

In Thuringia, the AfD’s campaign was spearheaded by co-leaders Björn Höcke and Stefan Möller. Höcke, a controversial figure in German politics, had set a goal for the party to achieve one-third of the vote, giving them a “blocking minority” in the state government. While the party narrowly missed this target, their strong performance still poses significant challenges for forming a government in Thuringia.

Despite the AfD’s victory, all other major parties, including the CDU and the left-wing populist Bündnis Sahra Wagenknecht (BSW), have ruled out forming a coalition with the AfD. This has led to uncertainty about the composition of the next state government in Thuringia, with potential coalitions involving left-leaning parties like The Left, SPD, or Greens being discussed.

In Saxony, discussions are underway about forming a “Kenya coalition” between the CDU, SPD, and Greens, named after the colors of the Kenyan flag.

The high voter turnout, with around 74 percent of eligible voters casting their ballots in both states and the AfD’s ability to attract younger voters—38 percent of voters aged 18 to 24 in Thuringia supported the AfD—highlight the shifting political landscape in Germany. The AfD’s use of social media platforms like TikTok to reach younger voters has been particularly effective.

As the dust settles from these elections, Germany faces the challenge of addressing the growing influence of the far-right while navigating the complexities of coalition-building in these key states.