Could Europeans face another significant political shift next Monday? For the first time since World War II, German voters in a regional election may grant an outright majority to a far-right party. We examine the AfD’s strong campaign in Saxony-Anhalt and its charismatic lead candidate, whose strategy emphasizes charm over the vitriol typically associated with a party harboring pro-Nazi origins.
Saxony-Anhalt presents a familiar narrative: that of a former East German state grappling with globalization’s impact, declining industry, and an aging population. The contrast between its struggling towns and villages and the dynamism of nearby cities like Berlin and Leipzig remains stark.
Speaking of Leipzig, the German government this week directly accused Russia over last month’s drone attack on a Ukrainian cargo plane at Leipzig airport. Do German voters care that this involves the same Russia actively aligned with Moscow and a Trump administration that claims immigrants pose a greater threat to Europe than Russian hostility?
These questions may serve as a prelude to next spring’s French presidential election, where Marine Le Pen’s party this week proposed banning the Muslim headscarf in public spaces.
Both the far-right National Rally and Germany’s AfD oppose a more federal Europe. What happens if they succeed?
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