On 02 September, Deutsche Welle reported on Germany’s election results in the eastern states of Thuringia and Saxony. The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) had emerged as the strongest party in Thuringia with 33 per cent of the vote. It came second in Saxony with 30 per cent of the vote just after the Christian Democratic Union (CDU). Björn Höcke, the AfD state chairman is considered to be a right-wing extremist, repeatedly using Nazi rhetoric in his party propaganda. He said: “We are the number one party in Thuringia.” He also added that the party would join possible coalitions after analysing the results. AfD’s primary demand was a change in the immigration policy for which it carried out a campaign on mass deportation of refugees from Germany. The party’s rise had been characterised by the rise of Nazism in Germany by political observers and historians. They had also warned about possible protests and damage to democracy. Despite all this, AfD remains to be powerful. Their share of vote in both states could also enable them to block decisions that need a two-thirds majority and “paralyse democratic processes.”

On 01 September, Hans Pfeifer opined on Deutsche Welle over the rise of Alternative for Germany (AfD) and Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance (BSW) among German voters. BSW is a new party founded by Sahra Wagenknecht. The party has strongly criticised Germany’s military engagement in the Russia-Ukraine war. BSW blames the US and NATO for displaying aggression in the war. The party leader said that the US has invaded five countries, violating international law and has killed more than one million people in those wars. BSW advocated left-leaning economic policies, conservative approach toward migration and pro-Russia foreign policies. Wagenknecht’s demand for rapprochement with Russia and criticism for Germany's aid to Ukraine is gaining popularity in eastern states. Another critic of Germany's aid is AfD, a far-right party. It is also focusing on ending Germany’s military aid campaign for voters in eastern states. In June 2024, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Ukraine’s President, appealed to the Bundestag to increase the aid for war. Meanwhile, leaders of AfD and BSW walked out of the building. Nico Köhler, an AfD leader, said that supplying arms to Ukraine does not solve anything and NATO is partly to blame for the aggression. Campaigns in eastern Germany reflect the demands of the voters. In 2023, University of Leipzig conducted a survey which concluded that the voters in eastern Germany want an authoritarian leadership. Experts view it as a legacy of dictatorship.

On 01 September, hundreds of people gathered in Erfurt, the capital of Thuringia in eastern Germany, to protest against Alternative for Germany. AfD is predicted to register a victory in at least one state in East Germany. The protests also coincided with AfD’s concluding rally in the state before the elections. According to Deutsche Welle, AfD will secure around 30 per cent of votes in Thuringia. The percentage is significantly more than the conservative Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and the new left-wing, Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance (BSW). Meanwhile, Social Democrats, Greens and Free Democrats are dealing with dissatisfaction among voters due to immigration and military aid to Ukraine. State domestic intelligence agencies have categorised AfD as an extremist organisation.

References:
“Germany's far-right AfD: 'We have a clear mandate to govern',” Deutsche Welle, 02 September 2024
“Russia's best friends in Germany: AfD and BSW,” Deutsche Welle, 01 September 2024
“Germany: Anti-far-right protests held ahead of state polls,” Deutsche Welle, 02 September 2024