AfD is rising, but it can still be stopped

What the report says

Al Jazeera opinion writer Jan Eichhorn argues that Germany’s mainstream parties still have a chance to blunt the rise of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) after its strong showing in Saxony-Anhalt. In the eastern state election, the AfD won 44 percent of the vote and 39 of 83 seats, falling short of a majority but potentially close enough to govern if the small populist BSW party helps it choose a head of government. That would mark the first time since World War II that an extreme-right party has held executive power in a German state.

Eichhorn says the result reflects a decade-long shift from protest politics to major influence, driven by public anger over worsening job prospects, education, health care and local services. He cites survey work indicating that many AfD supporters are firmly loyal to the party, while a smaller share remains open to other options and could still be reached by other parties. The piece argues that this group should be a focus ahead of upcoming elections in Berlin and Mecklenburg-Vorpommern.

The article also says mainstream parties have helped the AfD by placing immigration at the center of politics, even though most voters, according to the cited surveys, prioritize economic policy. Eichhorn calls for a change of strategy centered on stronger state action, local investment and visible improvements in daily life. In broader context, Germany’s political debate has increasingly been shaped by worries over polarization, dissatisfaction with government performance and how to respond to hard-right populism.