Fri Feb 28 10:55:00 UTC 2025: ## German Far-Right Surge Shakes Up Election, Posing Existential Threat

**Berlin** – Germany’s recent state elections have sent shockwaves through the European political landscape, revealing a dramatic shift in the country’s power dynamics. While Friedrich Merz’s conservative party secured victory, the Alternative for Germany (AfD), a far-right party, emerged as the second-largest force, doubling its support in just four years to 20.8%. This normalization of the AfD, designated as right-wing extremist by intelligence agencies in three states, marks a significant turning point, particularly given its expanding influence from its traditional stronghold in the east to the west.

The results challenge the long-standing German “firewall” (Brandmauer) – a consensus among mainstream parties to exclude extremist groups from government. The question now is whether this principle can hold, especially considering the high voter turnout suggesting a nation at an inflection point.

Contributing factors to the AfD’s rise include economic anxieties stemming from austerity measures, unemployment, and income inequality since the 2008 financial crisis. The party capitalizes on this discontent by promising to protect national interests and resist globalization. Furthermore, concerns over immigration and national identity have fueled xenophobic narratives, exploiting anxieties about cultural change. The inability of mainstream parties to address these concerns has created a fertile ground for anti-establishment sentiments.

The implications for Germany and Europe are profound. With transatlantic relations strained and a perceived weakening of US support under the Trump administration, Germany faces increasing pressure to lead Europe while grappling with internal divisions. Chancellor-in-waiting Merz’s call for increased European defense spending highlights the challenges ahead. He dismisses the AfD as a symptom of unsolved problems, but the party’s leader, Alice Weidel, is already aiming for greater success in the next election, challenging the notion that the AfD’s rise is temporary. Whether Germany’s mainstream parties can address the underlying issues and prevent the AfD’s further ascent remains a critical question for the future of German and European politics.

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