A far-right party called the Alternative for Germany (AfD) is poised to gain power in a state election in Saxony-Anhalt, which would be the first time a far-right party has held state-level power in Germany since World War II. The AfD's candidate, Ulrich Siegmund, has been campaigning on a platform that includes restricting immigration, quitting the Euro, and restoring ties with Russia. According to exit polls, the AfD is leading with around 44% of the vote, more than double its showing five years ago in the region.
This election could have significant implications for German politics and potentially signal a shift towards a harder-right path for the EU's biggest economy. The AfD has been gaining popularity in recent years, buoyed by popular disillusion with successive governments in Berlin and drawing support from formerly communist states in the east. A win for the AfD would also mean that they could overcome the "firewall" of mainstream parties' refusal to work with them.
The election is seen as a potentially historic shift in German politics, and the outcome will be closely watched by observers around the world. If the AfD does gain power, it would likely lead to significant changes in areas such as education, immigration policy, and foreign relations.
To start with, it is not the case that the AfD is a far-right party.
