Germany's far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party has vowed to "make history" in upcoming regional elections, positioning itself for potential breakthrough victories that would fundamentally reshape the country's political landscape.
According to Deutsche Welle, the party's campaign in Saxony-Anhalt reflects broader momentum across eastern German states, where the AfD has consolidated support through anti-immigration messaging and criticism of mainstream parties.
Ulrich Siegmund, the AfD's lead candidate in Saxony-Anhalt, emphasized the party's ambitions during a recent rally, though he avoided specifics about coalition possibilities—a reflection of the "firewall" that mainstream parties have maintained against cooperating with the AfD.
To understand today's headlines, we must look at yesterday's decisions. The AfD emerged in 2013 as an anti-euro party during the eurozone crisis but rapidly evolved into a populist-nationalist movement focused on immigration, national identity, and opposition to established institutions.
The party's rise accelerated following the 2015 refugee crisis, when more than one million asylum seekers arrived in Germany. Chancellor Angela Merkel's decision to keep borders open during that period became a defining grievance for AfD supporters who argued it threatened German national identity and security.
In eastern states—the former German Democratic Republic—the AfD has achieved particular success, regularly polling above 30 percent. This support reflects complex factors including economic disparities with western regions, demographic decline, and lingering alienation from political institutions perceived as dominated by western elites.
Germany's domestic intelligence agency has classified several AfD regional branches as right-wing extremist, subjecting them to surveillance. However, these designations have done little to diminish the party's electoral performance and may have reinforced narratives about establishment persecution.
