A dramatic turn of events has unfolded in Germany’s tumultuous election campaign, where the far-right Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) party appears poised to take second place. The 2025 race is expected to be remembered as a defining moment for the AfD, which has transformed from a sideshow party into a major player.
The AfD was initially founded by professors opposing eurozone bailout packages but has since morphed into an increasingly radical force fueled by anti-migrant sentiment and incorporating neo-Nazis. The party’s first chancellor candidate, Alice Weidel, attributed the party’s rise to the state’s failure to address law and order issues, particularly regarding new arrivals at the border.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has urged voters to reject the AfD, citing Germany’s history of rejecting extreme right-wing parties. However, high-profile endorsements from Tesla tycoon Elon Musk and US Vice-President JD Vance have bolstered the AfD’s momentum. The party’s leaders have successfully shifted the debate to focus on their central talking points, including crime and immigration.
AfD voters often dismiss concerns about the party’s Nazi affiliations, claiming they are not “Nazis.” Language that was once considered taboo has become commonplace among supporters and leaders. The AfD is expected to capture a historic one in five votes as it expands from its heartland into the western rust belt.
The mainstream parties’ “firewall” against cooperation with the far-right may keep the AfD out of power, but analysts believe the party’s influence will still complicate coalition building and obstruct the government on several fronts. The centrist parties have only a few years to address voters’ fundamental concerns or risk losing ground to the far right.
As the election nears its conclusion, AfD supporters like Mario Krause are confident that drastic change is needed. Despite concerns about the party’s radicalism, many ordinary citizens feel disillusioned with the mainstream parties and are willing to give the AfD a chance.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/feb/20/all-eyes-on-far-right-afd-in-german-election-rocked-by-violence-and-us-interference