Is the German far right about to win its first state elections since the Nazi era ? | DW News

Voters are going to the polls in the two eastern German states in what is seen as a barometer for the federal elections next year.

The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party is polling extremely well, and polls show it likely to emerge in first place in the state of Thuringia. Such a victory would be the first electoral win at a regional level by the German far-right since the end of the Nazi era.

The AfD is also predicted to achieve a strong result in the state of Saxony, possibly pushing the ruling center-right Christian Democratic Union into second place.

A recently founded left-wing populist party, the Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance, is also set to perform well in both states.

At the same time the parties making up Chancellor Olaf Scholz's ruling coalition are all expected to take a beating. Scholz's center-left Social Democratic Party are set to come a distant fourth or fifth in both states according to recent polling.

00:00 Far-right poised for victory in eastern state elections
00:52 DW's Chief Political Correspondent Nina Haasa discusses AfD's chances in Thuringia
04:40 DW Chief Political Editor Michaela Küfner explains Saxony's election

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[Tongue_Twister]

Perhaps before the previous Chancellor invited half the world on behalf of all of Europe, she could have considered that every action caused a reaction.

[VikingSummer]

Citizens voting in their own best interest is anti-democratic 😂

[Hispanocel]

What does far right even mean? Why do they never say “far left” constantly for other left parties?

[harrym]

Take a drink every time they say Far-right.🥴

[stephenwheeler-rm]

I wish the afd well!! As an American of German descent I am tired of being oppressed by leftists

[nenasiek]

This is what happens when the regular parties dont listen, its their own fault.

[SocialDemocraciaPT]

Ahhh.... fearmongers... let the people decide who should lead

[sifdesu]

how can germany call itself a democracy if the will the people is meaningless? your country is ruled by its enemies

[hanahudcova]

German intelligence agency classified them. Hm, how do they classified themself?

[SchulzEvgen]

You created a demand for far right by going way to far left.

[hondsdol]

women defending Islam is like Chickens defending KFC!!!

[markloubser]

As an outside observer the AFD is the view and feeling of a large number of Germans. That is their democratic right and well done to them.

[pinktfatrabbit]

Has anyone counted how many times far-right was said?

[Jennyeq]

People should be safe when they go to festivals. The fact that schools need to be protected like fortresses shows something is not right. We have been too generous offering a welcome to those who hate our society and detest our culture. It is time we put our children's future first.

[shirleymuhleisen]

“Threat to Democracy”: parroting Joe Biden and Kamala Harris.
What does democracy mean?

[sdjslkdjlsskldjslkdjsl]

Nice. My optimism for Germany went from 0% to slightly higher.

[HuiChyr]

AFD will save Europe. UK is paying the price now for being Far-Left.
Enough with this "Far-Right" labeling.

[guayames]

Which are the reasons they are gaining ground? That’s the bottom line!

[ClydeB]

Mmm i can alredy taste DW News' tears! Mmm they taste so good! 😋

[bionysos]

Far right? Who are they? Where they are?