Germany

2024 - 9 - 2

Germany's Polls Go Wild as the Far-Right Party Takes the Lead!

AfD - Chancellor Olaf Scholz - European politics - Germany - Political unrest - Populism - Regional elections - Volkswagen

Hold onto your schnitzels! Germany's Alternative for Germany party has just topped the polls in a historic upset, leaving Chancellor Olaf Scholz sweating!

Germany is witnessing a political revolution as the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party claims its first-ever lead in state polls, marking a significant change in the nation’s political landscape. This unprecedented success has left Chancellor Olaf Scholz expressing deep concerns about the implications of such a rise. The past week saw the AfD triumph in Thuringia, grabbing around 32-33% of the votes, making it the first far-right party to win a state legislature election in Germany since World War II. It’s a political surge that raises eyebrows and has critics worrying about the potential for increased nationalist and anti-immigrant rhetoric in regional and national discussions.

The rising popularity of the AfD can be attributed, in part, to growing discontent among voters regarding Chancellor Scholz's coalition government. As traditional party lines appear to blur, the AfD's message, heavily focused on anti-immigration sentiments, has proven to resonate with a population grappling with economic uncertainties and the effects of historical societal challenges. Many are left debating whether Germany should embrace a reinvigorated digital economy or hang on to its past, which some view as becoming increasingly outdated.

In this backdrop of political tension and electoral upheaval, the AfD’s leader is ready to govern and promises a fresh approach to the issues troubling the state. However, despite the party’s victory, collaboration with other political factions seems unlikely as they quickly rule out forming alliances with the AfD due to its controversial policies. This creates a curious scenario where a party can achieve electoral success yet remain marginalized in broader governance, leading citizens to question the future of German democracy.

As Germany holds its breath and watches the political dance unfold, Scholz's administration faces the challenge of shapeshifting public opinion while fending off the growing shadows of populism. Will this new landscape drive reforms to bridge the gap between traditional parties and the rising tide of right-wing populism? Only time will tell, but one thing is clear: German politics will not be the same anytime soon!

Did you know that Germany's AfD party originally started as a protest against the euro in 2013 before shifting its focus to immigration issues? This evolution symbolizes broader trends in global politics, where economic discontent often feeds into nationalist fervor. Meanwhile, Germany has long been considered an economic powerhouse, but some analysts suggest its reliance on old industries may be untenable, especially in a fast-paced digital world. It’s a curious pickle for a nation that once stood as a model of economic stability!

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Image courtesy of "FRANCE 24"

'Damaging Germany': Scholz expresses worry after success of far ... (FRANCE 24)

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz expressed concern after the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) topped the polls for the first time ever in the former ...

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Image courtesy of "Voice of America"

Germany's Scholz worried by far-right surge in regional elections (Voice of America)

Alternative for Germany became the first far-right party to win a state legislature election in Germany since World War II.

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Image courtesy of "The Economist"

The hard right takes Germany into uncharted territory (The Economist)

The parties in Olaf Scholz's coalition are crushed in state polls | Europe.

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Image courtesy of "The Guardian"

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Image courtesy of "BBC News"

German far right AfD hails 'historic' election victory in east (BBC News)

Germany's anti-immigration party Alternative for Germany is on course for victory in Thuringia.

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Image courtesy of "Aljazeera.com"

Far-right AfD wins eastern state in Germany's regional election (Aljazeera.com)

AfD leader declares that his party is ready to govern Thuringia but other parties have ruled out teaming up with it.

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Image courtesy of "NPR"

5 takeaways from Germany's regional elections after far-right makes ... (NPR)

Here are five takeaways from yesterday's elections: 1. The nationalist, anti-immigrant politics of the Alternative für Deutschland Party (AfD) are becoming more ...

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Image courtesy of "Financial Times"

Far-right Alternative for Germany wins first regional election (Financial Times)

The AfD has won its first regional German election in Thuringia. Preliminary results in east Germany state elections (% of vote).

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Image courtesy of "Financial Times"

Populists prevail in eastern Germany as wounds of past remain raw (Financial Times)

The AfD has won its first regional German election in Thuringia. Preliminary results in east Germany state elections (% of vote).

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Image courtesy of "CBS News"

Germany election results show far-right party set to win first state vote (CBS News)

Projections for ARD and ZDF public television based on exit polls and partial counting showed Alternative for Germany winning 32-33% of the vote in ...

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Image courtesy of "KUAR"

5 takeaways from Germany's regional elections after far-right makes ... (KUAR)

The Alternative for Germany party made huge gains in two eastern states, handing the German far-right its best results since World War II.

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Image courtesy of "POLITICO.eu"

5 takeaways from Germany's eastern elections (POLITICO.eu)

The Alternative for Germany (AfD) on Sunday scored a stunning win in an eastern German state election, amid rising voter discontent at Chancellor Olaf Scholz's ...

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Image courtesy of "CNN"

AfD becomes first far-right party to win German state election since ... (CNN)

The Alternative for Germany (AfD) has become the first far-right party to win a state election in Germany since the Nazi era, dealing a crushing blow to ...

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Image courtesy of "Reuters"

Battered and unloved, Germany's coalition likely to hang on after ... (Reuters)

The far right's first victory in a German state election in the post-war era prompted soul-searching in Berlin on Monday, but Chancellor Olaf Scholz's ...

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Image courtesy of "Financial Times"

Victory for the AfD raises difficult questions about east Germany (Financial Times)

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Criminal violence spilling over to Germany (Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime)

In a rented, empty warehouse in Germany, a local drug dealer records showing off his stash of half a ton of cannabis during a livestream, broadcasting his ...

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Image courtesy of "The Economist"

The hard right takes Germany into dangerous territory (The Economist)

Olaf Scholz, Germany's chancellor, called the result “bitter” and urged other parties to keep the AfD from power. The AfD's lead candidate in Thuringia, Björn ...

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Image courtesy of "Wyoming Public Media"

5 takeaways from Germany's regional elections after far right makes ... (Wyoming Public Media)

The Alternative for Germany party made huge gains in two eastern states, handing the German far right its best results since World War II.

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Image courtesy of "CBS News"

Germany election results fuel fear of far-right AfD's rise in the east: "I ... (CBS News)

"I know what this can all lead to," a German WWII survivor warns after the far-right AfD party's first state election win.

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Image courtesy of "CNBC"

Volkswagen warns of plant closures in Germany, citing 'extremely ... (CNBC)

German carmaker Volkswagen on Monday warned it will no longer be able to rule out plant closures in the country, citing the specter of major cost-cutting ...

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Image courtesy of "Financial Times"

VW considers closing factories in Germany and cutting jobs (Financial Times)

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Image courtesy of "CNN"

'A very serious situation': Volkswagen could close plants in Germany ... (CNN)

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Far-right wins in two German states (KUAR)

And while they were just regional elections, their results underscore how popular far-right politics are becoming in Germany. NPR's Berlin correspondent Rob ...

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Image courtesy of "GZERO Media"

AfD makes historic gains in eastern Germany (GZERO Media)

German voters delivered the hard right a significant victory in Sunday's election, as Bjoern Hoecke's Alternative for Germany party captured 32.8% of the ...

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Image courtesy of "Financial Times"

The choice facing Germany's far right: radicalism or power (Financial Times)

Simply sign up to the German politics myFT Digest -- delivered directly to your inbox. The far-right Alternative for Germany's victory in a regional election ...

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Image courtesy of "The Guardian"

'A punch to the country': German Jewish groups and minorities ... (The Guardian)

Holocaust survivors shocked at extent of support for far-right party while people of colour fear for their safety.

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Image courtesy of "The Guardian"

AfD's success in German elections piles pressure on a fragmented EU (The Guardian)

The centre 'may be holding' but if the far right continues to win elections, the European project faces a rocky few years.

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Image courtesy of "Euronews"

Europe reels from far-right victory in eastern Germany elections (Euronews)

Will the results from Saxony and Thuringia influence Germany's energy transition and support for Ukraine?

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Image courtesy of "Aljazeera.com"

'Stark rejection': How Germany's far-right AfD won key election in the ... (Aljazeera.com)

In a first for far right since World War II, the party won the state of Thuringia, riding on grievances from the past.

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Image courtesy of "Peoples Dispatch"

Far-right AfD continues to grow in Germany clinching significant ... (Peoples Dispatch)

The far-right in Europe is experiencing some of its best (election) days in recent years. Elections in the German federal states of Thuringia and Saxony saw ...

Germany's coal exit on track, no forced closures needed (Clean Energy Wire)

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The crisis of German capitalism is deepening relentlessly. Last Sunday, elections were held in the two federal states of Saxony and Thuringia.

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Image courtesy of "Voice of America"

German far-right surge raises doubts about Berlin's support for Ukraine (Voice of America)

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