AfD Eyes Historic Win in Brandenburg Election

The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) is poised to clinch a significant victory in Brandenburg, a traditional Social Democrat stronghold, amid rising concerns over economic issues, immigration, and the Ukraine war. An AfD win would mark a pivotal shift in German politics and raise questions about Chancellor Olaf Scholz's leadership.

The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) is on track to secure a groundbreaking win in Brandenburg's election on Sunday, challenging Chancellor Olaf Scholz's Social Democrats in a region long dominated by the SPD. This potential victory follows the AfD's historic win in Thuringia earlier this month, where it became the first far-right party to win a state election in Germany since World War Two.

Buoyed by public discontent over economic stagnation, immigration, and the Ukraine conflict, the AfD is capitalizing on similar concerns prevalent in eastern Germany. However, the party is unlikely to govern owing to insufficient polling numbers for a majority and the unwillingness of other parties to collaborate with it. Hans-Christoph Berndt, the AfD's lead candidate in Brandenburg, has called for a 'thorough course correction' to prevent the country from deteriorating.

An AfD win would be a significant blow to the SPD, questioning Scholz's capability to lead his party into the next federal election. The SPD has recently closed the polling gap with the AfD, with a Thursday poll showing just a one-point difference. Both Scholz's coalition partners, the Free Democrats and the Greens, face challenges in winning the 5% needed to enter the state parliament. The outcome could significantly impact the political landscape ahead of the federal election in 2025.

(With inputs from agencies.)