Germany’s far-right afd and far-left bsw parties achieve significant electoral victories in thuringia and saxony

In Germany, right-wing and far-left parties have achieved significant electoral victories in the eastern states of Thuringia and Saxony. The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party has garnered historic support and is poised to become the largest party. Meanwhile, the newly formed far-left BSW party also received considerable backing. The success of these fringe parties reflects widespread dissatisfaction with the current political climate, according to European history professor Laura Kolbe.

Both parties oppose immigration and the European Union, advocating for limited aid to Ukraine. Kolbe describes this election outcome as a protest against the governing coalition and its political decisions, suggesting that Germany is at a pivotal moment. With federal elections scheduled for next year, the results of these state elections may foreshadow broader national trends.

The electoral results have been interpreted as indicators of Germany’s polarization, with Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s Social Democratic Party (SPD) obtaining only a fraction of the votes. Thuringia and Saxony, historically part of East Germany, have a long tradition of support for extremist parties, reflecting divergent developments between East and West Germany throughout the 20th century.

Despite 30 years since reunification, Kolbe highlights that political systems remain in flux, and the rise of fringe parties illustrates a historical pattern of seeking answers to complex social issues through extremism. However, she cautions that these extremes failed to resolve deep societal problems in the past, raising concerns for Germany’s ongoing integration.

The election results suggest an intensifying societal divide in Germany, with post-election protests already occurring in the capital, Berlin. Kolbe notes that this presents a challenging scenario for political decision-making, underlining the necessity for all parties to collaborate in building a hopeful and united future amidst the current crisis.