The Far-right politicians from the Alternative for Germany have defied a series of scandals by making solid gains and claiming second place in Sunday’s EU election, as suggested by initial exit polls.
The Election outcome highlights the party’s resilience as it looks ahead to next year’s federal election.
The prediction arrives amidst a significant shakeup in Germany’s political landscape, marked by the emergence of new populist parties competing to fill the void left by the diminishing mainstream parties, which have held sway since reunification in 1990.
According to an exit poll from state broadcaster ARD, the AfD obtained a record 16.5% of the vote on Sunday. Although this is lower than the 22% it polled in February, it marks a 5.5 percentage point increase from the last EU election in 2019, surpassing all three parties in Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s coalition.
The results reflect an expected trend towards a broader shift to the right for the European Parliament across the bloc’s 450 million citizens.
The AfD has capitalized on discontent with Scholz’s coalition, whose support has plummeted since assuming office in late 2021.
The coalition is grappling with various challenges, including the repercussions of the Ukraine war, the strain on state services due to increased migration, and a growing cost of living crisis.