In a significant and controversial development, the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party has secured a victory in a regional election, marking the first time since World War II that such a party has won the most seats in a German state parliament. The election, held in the eastern state of Thuringia, saw the AfD win 32.8% of the vote, outpacing the mainstream centre-right Christian Democratic Union (CDU), which garnered 23.6%.

This victory is a historic moment for the AfD, a party founded in 2013 with an anti-migration and eurosceptic platform. It is also a stark indication of the rising influence of far-right politics in certain regions of Germany. However, despite the win, the AfD is likely to remain excluded from power, as other political parties have consistently refused to collaborate with it due to its extremist positions.

The AfD’s success was not limited to Thuringia. In the neighboring state of Saxony, the party nearly matched the CDU’s vote share, securing 31.5% compared to the CDU’s 32%. This performance underscores the growing appeal of the AfD’s nationalist and anti-immigration rhetoric, particularly in eastern Germany.

Björn Höcke, the AfD’s leader in Thuringia and a highly polarizing figure, expressed pride in the election results. Höcke, who has been under surveillance by Germany’s domestic intelligence agency for his links to far-right extremism, reacted defensively when confronted about his party’s extremist ties. “Please stop stigmatising me. We are the number one party in Thuringia,” he asserted, dismissing concerns about the implications of his party’s victory.

Höcke’s controversial past includes a conviction for knowingly using a Nazi slogan during political events, a charge he is currently appealing. His rhetoric, such as describing Berlin’s Holocaust memorial as a “monument of shame,” has made him a divisive figure even within Germany’s fragmented political landscape.

The election results represent a setback for German Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s coalition government, which is facing mounting challenges just a year before the next federal election in September 2025. Scholz’s Social Democratic Party (SPD), along with its coalition partners, the Greens and the liberal Free Democrats (FDP), performed poorly in the regional elections, reflecting growing discontent among voters.

The rise of the AfD comes at a time when immigration has become a highly charged issue in Germany, particularly after a recent knife attack in Solingen, believed to have been carried out by an Islamic extremist, claimed three lives. This incident has fueled anti-immigrant sentiment and played into the hands of the AfD, which has capitalized on fears about immigration and security.

Despite the AfD’s electoral gains, the party remains isolated in the political sphere, as other parties continue to reject any form of collaboration with it. This isolation is likely to prevent the AfD from forming a government in Thuringia, even though it emerged as the leading party in the election.