Germany is likely to see its first far-right party victory since World War II in the upcoming election.

The Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) has gained significant support in the eastern part of Germany, which was once under Communist rule. In fact, it seems that a far-right party is set to win a state election for the first time since World War II. According to exit polls, the AfD is projected to become the largest party in Thuringia with 30.5-33.5% of the vote. This is a significant achievement, especially considering that in another recent election in Saxony, the party was neck and neck with the main opposition party, the Christian Democratic Union (CDU).

Despite its growing popularity, the AfD may face challenges in forming a government in either region. This is because the CDU, which was previously led by Chancellor Angela Merkel, has made it clear that they will not work with the anti-immigrant AfD. Alice Weidel, a national co-leader of the AfD, criticized this stance, calling it "pure ignorance" and stating that voters want the party to be involved in government.

These state elections were preceded by a large rally in Erfurt, the capital of Thuringia, where thousands of people gathered to denounce the AfD as fascists. This sentiment was further fueled by the news that local AfD leader Björn Höcke had been fined for using a Nazi slogan, although he claimed to be unaware of its meaning.

The election results are expected to be unfavorable for the Social Democratic Party (SDP), led by Chancellor Olaf Scholz, as well as the other parties in his ruling coalition. Some predictions even suggested that none of the parties in the national government would win a single seat in Thuringia, although it now seems that the SDP may secure some representation.

In Thuringia, the controversial leader of the AfD, Björn Höcke, has been a prominent figure. However, the overall outlook is not positive for Chancellor Scholz or his coalition partners, as they face strong anti-immigrant sentiment and skepticism towards Germany's military support for Ukraine.

Another individual who has gained from the unpopularity of mainstream parties is Sahra Wagenknecht. Her self-titled Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance is projected to win up to 16% of the vote in Thuringia and 12% in Saxony. Wagenknecht, a left-wing populist, has seen a surge in support due to her stance on issues such as immigration and Ukraine, which are often associated with right-wing politics.

Looking ahead, the next national election in Germany is just over a year away. It will be interesting to see how these state election results impact the political landscape and what this means for the future of Germany.

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