The far-right party Alternative for Germany (AfD) has made history by polling over 32% in elections in Thuringia, marking the first time a far-right party is set to enter a state parliament since WWII. The AfD’s success has been hailed as a “historic victory” by the party’s leader Björn Höcke. The AfD’s rise has pushed the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) into second place in the state, with coalitions with the AfD seen as necessary for stability.
Despite the success, forming a government with the AfD will be challenging due to the reluctance of other parties to work with them. The CDU remains firm in its refusal to cooperate with the far-right party. The Greens and the leftist party BSW have also seen disappointing results, leading to concerns about the rise of right-wing extremism in German politics.
The results in Thuringia and Saxony have been viewed as a wakeup call by many, with fears about the lack of representation for centrist democratic parties. The AfD remains optimistic about forming political alliances, emphasizing their readiness to engage in discussions to create better policies. However, with federal elections approaching next year, the inconclusive results in these elections indicate a difficult road ahead for forming a stable government.
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