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Far right set to win in a German state for the first time since WWII
Far right set to win in a German state for the first time since WWII
Deemed an extremist organization by domestic intelligence in three German states, the AfD has overcome deep-seated taboos over nationalist politics in Germany.
Björn Höcke, the regional leader of the far-right Alternative for Germany party (AfD) in Thuringia, speaks to journalists in Erfurt, Germany, on Sunday. (Clemens Bilan/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock)
By Kate Brady and Anthony Faiola
September 1, 2024 at 2:35 p.m. EDT
BERLIN — Projections in Germany’s closely watched elections Sunday showed the anti-migrant Alternative for Germany (AfD) party leading in one state and running a close second in another, a result that, if confirmed by official tallies, would see a far-right party win a state for the first time in the country’s postwar history.
The projections, based on early vote counts and commissioned by public broadcaster ARD, showed the AfD well ahead with 32.8 percent in the state of Thuringia, and claiming 30.8 percent in Saxony — 1 percentage point behind the center-right Christian Democrats. A second forecast by broadcaster ZDF showed an even tighter race in Saxony. … In both states in eastern Germany — which has become a stronghold of the far right — other parties have refused to cooperate with the AfD, meaning it is unlikely to form part of any new state governments. Nevertheless, the victory in Thuringia in particular would be seen as highly symbolic.
Deemed an extremist organization by domestic intelligence in three German states, and under investigation by national authorities for Islamophobia and its radical anti-migrant stances, the AfD has managed to overcome deep-seated taboos over nationalist politics.
“For the first time since World War II, we have a far-right party coming in first place in an election here in Germany,” said Sudha David-Wilp, director of the German Marshall Fund’s Berlin office. “So that is quite significant. The mainstream parties have to realize that the [AfD] is here to stay.”
{snip}
Deemed an extremist organization by domestic intelligence in three German states, the AfD has overcome deep-seated taboos over nationalist politics in Germany.
Björn Höcke, the regional leader of the far-right Alternative for Germany party (AfD) in Thuringia, speaks to journalists in Erfurt, Germany, on Sunday. (Clemens Bilan/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock)
By Kate Brady and Anthony Faiola
September 1, 2024 at 2:35 p.m. EDT
BERLIN — Projections in Germany’s closely watched elections Sunday showed the anti-migrant Alternative for Germany (AfD) party leading in one state and running a close second in another, a result that, if confirmed by official tallies, would see a far-right party win a state for the first time in the country’s postwar history.
The projections, based on early vote counts and commissioned by public broadcaster ARD, showed the AfD well ahead with 32.8 percent in the state of Thuringia, and claiming 30.8 percent in Saxony — 1 percentage point behind the center-right Christian Democrats. A second forecast by broadcaster ZDF showed an even tighter race in Saxony. … In both states in eastern Germany — which has become a stronghold of the far right — other parties have refused to cooperate with the AfD, meaning it is unlikely to form part of any new state governments. Nevertheless, the victory in Thuringia in particular would be seen as highly symbolic.
Deemed an extremist organization by domestic intelligence in three German states, and under investigation by national authorities for Islamophobia and its radical anti-migrant stances, the AfD has managed to overcome deep-seated taboos over nationalist politics.
“For the first time since World War II, we have a far-right party coming in first place in an election here in Germany,” said Sudha David-Wilp, director of the German Marshall Fund’s Berlin office. “So that is quite significant. The mainstream parties have to realize that the [AfD] is here to stay.”
{snip}