The far-right political party Alternative for Germany (AfD) has become the first of its kind to win in the country since World War II, exit polls showed.
In the former state of Thuringia, the AfD received between 30.5 and 33.5 percent of the vote, while the conservative CDU came in second with 24.5 percent of the vote.
Thuringia, a rural region and the only state currently run by the far-left Die Linke party, successor to East Germany’s ruling communist party, was one of two holding regional elections today, ahead of national elections in 2025, with the AfD nearly winning in neighbouring Saxony, a conservative stronghold that is the largest in the former East Germany, as well as The polls showed it.
While the party is unlikely to win power in any of the states as other parties have vowed to join forces to force the far-right out of power, the result reflects the party’s growing popularity.
Bjoern Hoecke, the controversial leader of the AfD in Thuringia, told broadcaster ARD that his party is the “people’s party in Thuringia”.
“We need change and change will only come with the AfD,” he said, praising the “historic result.”
Bjorn Hocke (pictured), member of Alternative fur Deutschland (AfD), looks on after the first exit polls in the Thuringian state elections.
A protester carries a sticker against the Alternative fur Deutschland (AfD) party during a demonstration following the first exit polls in the Thuringia state elections in Erfurt, Germany.
The far-right political party Alternative for Germany (AfD) has become the first of its kind to win in the country since World War II (file image)
Hoecke is one of Germany’s most controversial far-right politicians and has been fined twice this year for deliberately using a banned Nazi slogan.
AfD co-leader Alice Weidel called the result a “historic success”, while the party’s other co-leader, Tino Chrupalla, said the party had a “clear mandate to govern” in Thuringia.
Chrupalla said both states had sent the message that “there should be a change of policy” and that the AfD was “ready and willing to talk to all parties”.
The clashes in Thuringia and Saxony come just over a week after three people were killed in a suspected Islamist knife attack in the western city of Solingen, fuelling a bitter debate over immigration in Germany.
The suspected attacker, a 26-year-old Syrian man with suspected links to the Islamic State group, was due to be deported but evaded authorities’ attempts to deport him.
The government has attempted to respond to the alarm by announcing stricter controls on the use of knives and rules for immigrants who are in Germany illegally.
Tonight’s exit polls also showed a good night for BSW, a new party founded by political firebrand Sahra Wagenknecht after she left the far-left Die Linke party.
Bjorn Hocke, member of Alternative fur Deutschland (AfD), walks up the stairs after the first exit polls in the Thuringian state elections
Activists hold banners during a protest against the far-right party AfD (Alternative for Germany) and its top candidate for the regional elections in Thuringia.
According to polls, the BSW received between 14.5 and 16 percent of the vote in Thuringia and between 11.5 and 12 percent in Saxony.
Wagenknecht’s party has appealed to voters in eastern Germany with a moderate stance toward Russia and calls for a radical crackdown on immigration.
The party enjoyed immediate success in the European elections in June, winning around six percent of the German vote.
The refusal of other parties to work with the AfD potentially leaves BSW as the decisive party in Thuringia and Saxony, despite serious political disagreements with potential partners, especially in Ukraine.
Scholz’s coalition partners, the Greens and the FDP, had a dismal night in both states, gaining even less than the SPD.
A third state in former East Germany, Brandenburg, is also due to hold elections in late September, where polls give the AfD a lead of around 24 percent.
Founded in 2013 as an anti-euro group before transforming into an anti-immigration party, the AfD has taken advantage of the contentious three-party coalition in Berlin to rise in opinion polls.
In June’s European Parliament elections, the party won a record 15.9 percent overall and did especially well in eastern Germany, where it emerged as the largest force.
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