AfD's Historic Win: Thuringia's Regional Election Shakes German Politics

The Alternative for Germany (AfD) is poised to become the first far-right party to win a regional election in Germany since WWII. Winning 33.1% of the vote in Thuringia, the party faces exclusion by its rivals. The election results deal a blow to Chancellor Olaf Scholz's coalition ahead of next year's national election.

The Alternative for Germany (AfD) was set to make history on Sunday by becoming the first far-right party since World War Two to win a regional election in Germany, according to projections. The AfD was expected to gather 33.1% of the vote in Thuringia, outpacing the conservatives' 24.3%, as projected by broadcaster ZDF.

In the neighbouring state of Saxony, the conservatives led with 31.9%, narrowly maintaining a lead over the AfD by half a percentage point. With a national election looming in a year, the regional results spell trouble for Social Democrat Chancellor Olaf Scholz's coalition, as all three parties lost votes. The Greens and Free Democrats are barely crossing the 5% threshold needed to stay in parliament.

The recent knife attack in Solingen, allegedly committed by an illegally resident Syrian national, overshadowed the campaign's final week and may have fueled the anti-immigration AfD's momentum. Alice Weidel, the AfD's joint leader, declared the results a 'requiem for the coalition,' questioning its ability to continue governing. With other major parties excluding the AfD, the left populist Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance (BSW) could prove crucial for forming stable governance in economically lagging regions.

The poor outcome for Scholz's coalition might intensify internal conflicts as parties look to define their identities ahead of the national election. Weidel claimed the results show voters want the AfD in government. Bodo Ramelow, the premier of Thuringia from the Left party, emphasized the need for democratic collaboration to combat the normalization of fascism.

(With inputs from agencies.)