Far-Right AfD's Election Victory in Germany Tests Political Firewall
The historic success of the far-right AfD, which won 43.8% of the vote in Germany's Saxony-Anhalt state, is challenging the country's policy of isolating the far right.
In Germany, the far-right and anti-immigrant Alternative for Germany (AfD) party achieved a major victory by securing 43.8% of the vote in elections held in the state of Saxony-Anhalt. This result poses the biggest test yet to the political firewall built by mainstream parties to keep the far right out of power.
Saxony-Anhalt Election Results
In Sunday's elections in the eastern German state of Saxony-Anhalt, the far-right Alternative for Germany party achieved a major success.
More than doubling its vote share from five years ago, the AfD reached 43.8% of the vote and placed first in the state elections.
The Firewall Policy
Mainstream parties in Germany have decided not to cooperate in any way with the far-right party due to the country's Nazi past.
This isolation policy applied against the AfD, which has been classified as an extremist group by the domestic intelligence agency, is known as a firewall.
Government Formation Scenarios
Ulrich Siegmund, the far-right party's candidate for state premier, stated that he would contact all parties and lawmakers to secure a majority.
Thomas Schulze, the lead candidate of the left-leaning BSW party which won 5.3% of the vote, announced that they could support an AfD premier taking office.
Potential Coalition Challenges
If parties other than the AfD come together to form a coalition, a highly complex and unstable structure involving five different partners could emerge.
Experts and political analysts state that parties sharing a common Russia policy could breach the firewall and form the first far-right state government.