The Alternative for Germany (AfD) has won its first-ever German state election.
On Sunday the AfD won 32 seats in the 88-member state parliament of the state of Thuringia.
The Christian Democratic Union (CDU) came second with 23 seats. A new left-wing populist party, Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance – Reason and Justice (BSW) was third with 15 seats. The Left managed 12 seats, while the Social Democratic Party (SPD), which is the senior partner in Germany’s national governing coalition, won six seats.
Neither of the two other parties which govern with the SPD, the Greens and the Free Democrats, managed to win enough support to gain representation in the state legislature.
This is the AfD’s best-ever performance in a state election and the first time it has come first in a state election.
However, it is unlikely that the AfD will manage to govern the state, as other parties have ruled out a coalition with it.
Sahra Wagenknecht, the leader of BSW, said she would prefer to go into coalition with either the CDU or SPD, or both of the parties.
Another German state, Saxony, also held an election on Sunday. Here the AfD also performed well, coming second with 41 out of the 120 seats.
The CDU was first with 42 seats. The other parties which won seats were BSW (15 seats), the SPD (nine seats), and the Greens and the Left, which each won six seats. The Free Voters won a solitary seat.
The result will cause some soul searching for the German political establishment, with many people characterising the AfD as “far right.” The rise of the party will concern observers, especially given Germany’s history.