Germany: Far-right AfD wins first state vote since WWII
Source: DW
The far-right AfD won the election in Thuringia, securing 32.8% of the vote, preliminary results showed after all votes were counted.
The Christian Democratic Union (CDU) came second, winning 23.6%.
The upstart, left-wing party Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance (BSW) was third with 15.8% of the vote.
Germanys ruling coalition parties, including Chancellor Olaf Scholz's Social Democrats (SPD), the environmentalist Greens and business-focused Free Democrats (FDP), received a drubbing at the polls.
Read more: https://www.dw.com/en/far-right-german-party-wins-first-state-election-since-wwii/live-70102882
jimfields33
(18,612 posts)Its going to be a long couple years or more for the population.
Polybius
(17,645 posts)It's nothing like it is here in the US.
Initech
(101,723 posts)OnlinePoker
(5,829 posts)I'm sure this added fuel to the fire. Also, the German state that voted for AFD is in the east, the former Soviet East Germany, and they are against the support for Ukraine in the war. The same goes for the other state where AFD came a close second. Even 30 years after unification, this is a more economically depressed region of the country, which tends to push people towards radical political parties. To be honest, though, they only received 33% in Thuringia and it is unlikely any other party will be willing to form a ruling coalition with them.
Unfortunately, you're seeing a similar pattern happening in much of Europe, with France being a good (bad) example. The far right National Rally party/Union of the Far Right coalition took in over 37% of the vote nationally in the second round of voting in July and now hold 25% of the seats in the French Parliament.
onetexan
(13,889 posts)Ppl have grievance and harbor hate for "others". In the late 30s /early 40s it was Jews. Now it's dark skin immigrants.
Polybius
(17,645 posts)Hitler relied on propaganda and lies. Nearly everyone agrees that there were huge mistakes in Europe's immigration policies over the past 20 years or so. Expecting immigrants to assimilate was considered taboo at the time.
onetexan
(13,889 posts)It's the same playbook.
Polybius
(17,645 posts)Not the GOP.
0rganism
(24,606 posts)How hard would it be to get an undocumented immigrant to commit some random act of mass murder in return for citizenship, promise of a full pardon from TSF, and a pile of money?
Polybius
(17,645 posts)0rganism
(24,606 posts)All it would take is 3-4 such mercenaries and a dozen dead Americans to pave TSF's way back to the Whitehouse.
Polybius
(17,645 posts)There is no way they would get away with it, the promise of a pardon would be ridiculous, because they would be waiting forever.
RazorbackExpat
(172 posts)It's 2 districts in the former East Germany where there is considerable support for Russia against Ukraine.
J_William_Ryan
(2,069 posts)It remains a threat in both Europe and the US.
C0RI0LANUS
(1,253 posts)German authorities identified over 32,200 right-wing extremists in 2019. Much of the rise has to do with authorities counting groups affiliated with the far-right AfD for the first time. (Photo: DW.com)
The leader of the AfD, Bjoern Hoecke, was convicted in 2024 for using a Nazi slogan at a party rally.
German federal elections take place Oct 2025.
Source:
dw.com
Jacson6
(696 posts)PortTack
(34,496 posts)RazorbackExpat
(172 posts)The AfD is not going to have the same level of support in most of the rest of the country.
IronLionZion
(46,917 posts)their economies are worse than the western states and they hate immigrants/refugees/etc.
RazorbackExpat
(172 posts)IronLionZion
(46,917 posts)RazorbackExpat
(172 posts)Quite by accident, I recently met a man from Thuringia. We were companions for a couple of weeks, because of what fate had dealt both of us. During that time, we had some really interesting conversations. We talked about East and West Germany, and that he was born in the West, but spent time in the East with his parents, and later as a college student. It was so fascinating to hear his stories. He moved to the East a few years after reunification, and started a business in Thuringia. Later, he became involved with German politics.
He told me that after the collapse of the Honecker/Krenz regime in East Germany, many former East Germans rushed to go to the West. I saw that for myself, watching on the TV as East Germans crowded into trains and threw their DDR marks out the windows to those who remained behind after they were allowed to leave without repercussions.
However, the people who stayed behind were often those who benefited from the Soviet domination of the DDR. My friend had told me that the authoritarian brainwashing had lasted for decades, starting with the Hitler era and going through the Soviet era. And even today, there are people in that region who still support the old Soviet/Russian system, and support Russia in the war against Ukraine and are therefore against German aid to Ukraine.
And that's one reason why the fucking AfD came out ahead this time, compared to the previous election that was held before the Russian invasion.
IronLionZion
(46,917 posts)My cousin lives in Germany and married to a German. I've had similar chats with them about the East/West divide in thinking because of their differing economic histories.
LudwigPastorius
(10,714 posts)I'd like to hear your take on this.
electric_blue68
(17,746 posts)flying_wahini
(7,975 posts)If it can happen there ..