Friedrich Merz, leader of Germany’s conservative opposition party, secured a victory in the country’s election on Sunday, securing approximately 28.5% of the vote, with the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) trailing behind at 20.5%. Though coming in second, the AfD’s result is a historic victory for the group, marking the strongest voter support for a far-right party in Germany since World War II. The election comes several months after the collapse of Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s three-party coalition government, resulting in the early election which determines the composition of the Bundestag. As Germany prepares for the implementation of a new government, the party leaders contemplate coalitions, likely to be formed between Merz’s Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and Scholz’s Social Democrat Party (SPD), as well as potentially the Greens. Merz along with many of the other major parties, however, have repeatedly refused partnering with the AfD, led by Alice Weidel. 

AfD co-leader Tino Chrupalla stated, “We are not the policial center and we have left the fringes behind us,” to a crowd of supporters. 

Merz dismissed the idea that voters would want a coalition that includes the AfD. “You want the opposite of what we want, so there will be no cooperation,” he said in comment on the two parties’ “fundamentally different views”. 

Scholz, whose center-left party finished a disappointing third, said “Now we have the far-right – the AfD – and the fact they got such a good election result is something we cannot accept and I will never accept,” later adding, “We need to stick to what we have always said, we mustn’t work with the far-right”.

The AfD is known for its anti-immigration rhetoric, opposition to LGBTQ+ rights, dismissal of Germany’s fascist past, sympathy for Russia, and other far-right and populist positions. Though reassuring that German mainstream political parties such as the CDU and SPD have refused to form a coalition with the AfD, it is quite concerning that the group has secured the second-highest amount of votes in this election, increasing its previous support by nearly double. Germany’s commitment to progressivism and reparations has been fundamental to the country’s postwar recovery and success throughout the 20th and 21st centuries, however, the shift towards far-right conservatism threatens its status as a modern leader in European unity and democracy. Once formed, the new German coalition must keep their promises to refuse working with the AfD to prevent regressive policies and social backsliding the alt-right campaigns for. 

The election in Germany was dominated by economic worries, curbing migration, and the future of Ukraine. The AfD has increasingly attracted attention since their formation in 2013, particularly for their controversial comments and positions. Notably, Weidel openly advocates for a shift away from the country’s collective memory of its Nazi past, stating that educational and political efforts to maintain historical implications were “pesky” and a part of a “guilt cult”. Their strong anti-immigration stances have centered on the fears of “Islamisation of the West”, stating that the influx of immigration threatens Germany’s European-Christian identity. AfD’s success comes shortly after Elon Musk made a surprise virtual appearance at one of their rallies, days after he had made headlines for giving a Sieg Heil-like gesture at an inauguration event for U.S. president Donald Trump, for which he has yet to explicitly deny doing. The AfD has also called for a more lenient approach to Moscow, downplaying their role in the invasion of Ukraine, arguing that Germany should lift Russian sanctions and decrease its support for Ukraine’s war efforts. 

As Germany faces the rise of regressive politics, the AfD’s strong showing in the election is concerning. While they gained significant support among voters, it is crucial that their divisive and nationalist policies do not become the dominant force in Germany or Europe. The AfD’s stance on the Russia-Ukraine war, advocating for a softer approach to Russia and a reduction in support for Ukraine, risks undermining Germany’s role within the international community and weakening European unity. Their anti-immigration rhetoric and denial of Germany’s postwar responsibilities also threatens the progressive values that have defined the country’s recovery and subsequent commitment to human rights. Germany must ensure that these far-right views do not shape its future, as they risk destabilizing domestic peace and broader geopolitical security. The rise of the AfD, far-right values, and populism is a reminder of the broader challenges facing democracies in the West, and how the rejection of such dangerous ideologies will be crucial for maintaining stability and unity.