The far-right party Alternative for Germany (AfD) won the most votes in five federal states in eastern Germany in Sunday’s European Parliament elections, reflecting a growing political divide in the country.
According to preliminary results, this anti-immigrant party garnered 31.8% of the votes in Saxony, 30.7% in Thuringia, 30.5% in Saxony-Anhalt, 28.3% in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, and 27.5% in Brandenburg.
Support for the AfD in the former communist East German states was significantly higher than its national level result of 15.9%.
This marked AfD’s best result so far in the European Parliament elections, making it the second-largest party in Germany.
Exit polls showed that most AfD voters were concerned about their economic well-being and demanded stronger measures to stop irregular migration.
As many as 94% of AfD voters expressed concern that the influence of Islam in Germany is “becoming too strong.”
According to a survey, 51% of those who voted for AfD said they believe in the party’s policies. Around 44% of respondents said they voted for AfD out of protest or disappointment with other parties.
In recent years, AfD has been embroiled in numerous scandals, including a secret meeting of its senior officials to plan the mass deportation of immigrants, which raised doubts about the party’s commitment to democratic values.
Germany’s domestic intelligence agency has been monitoring AfD’s youth wing and various branches due to suspicions of anti-democratic aspirations within the party.
In recent years, prominent members of the party have sparked controversy with their anti-immigrant, antisemitic, and Islamophobic remarks. Critics accuse AfD of fostering xenophobia and anti-Muslim racism in Germany.
E.Dz.
