Posted on 09/01/2024 8:16:46 AM PDT by SeekAndFind
The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party is on the brink of securing its first-ever win in a German state election, as voters in the eastern state of Thuringia head to the polls. The AfD has emerged as the frontrunner, according to recent polls, signaling a significant shift in the political landscape of the region.
The party, known for its nationalist and anti-immigration stance, has gained considerable support in Thuringia, a state that has become a stronghold for the AfD in recent years.
The AfD's rise in Thuringia is emblematic of broader political trends in Germany's eastern states, where the party has capitalized on economic dissatisfaction, fears about immigration, and a sense of alienation from the political establishment in Berlin.
Recent polling data indicates that the AfD could garner up to 30% of the vote, a remarkable feat for a party that has long been considered a fringe movement in German politics. This would not only mark the party's first victory in a state election but also further embolden its supporters and potentially reshape the national political dialogue.
Thuringia, a state with a population of just over two million, has traditionally been governed by a coalition of left-leaning parties, including the Left Party (Die Linke), the Social Democrats (SPD), and the Greens. However, the AfD's surge in popularity has threatened this coalition's hold on power, with many voters increasingly turning to the far-right as a means of expressing their dissatisfaction with the status quo. The AfD's success in Thuringia could set a precedent for upcoming state elections in other eastern regions, where the party is also gaining ground.
Björn Höcke, the controversial leader of the AfD in Thuringia, has been a driving force behind the party's ascent in the state. Höcke, known for his provocative rhetoric and far-right views, has positioned the AfD as the only party willing to stand up for the interests of ordinary Germans against what he describes as the "elite" in Berlin. His hardline stance on issues such as immigration, law and order, and national identity has resonated with many voters in Thuringia, particularly in rural areas where the AfD's message of cultural preservation and economic nationalism has found a receptive audience.
The potential victory for the AfD in Thuringia has raised alarm bells among mainstream political parties and civil society groups, who view the party's rise as a dangerous threat to Germany's democratic values. Critics argue that the AfD's populist rhetoric and nationalist agenda could deepen social divisions and undermine the country's post-war commitment to tolerance and pluralism. The party has also faced accusations of harboring extremist elements, with some of its members and supporters linked to far-right movements and ideologies.
Despite these concerns, the AfD's momentum shows no signs of slowing down, as the party continues to attract voters disillusioned with the traditional political establishment. The upcoming election in Thuringia is being closely watched not only in Germany but across Europe, as it could serve as a bellwether for the strength of far-right movements on the continent. A victory for the AfD in Thuringia would send shockwaves through the German political system and could have far-reaching implications for the country's future direction.
As election day approaches, the other major parties in Thuringia are scrambling to mobilize their supporters and prevent the AfD from securing a decisive victory. The Left Party, which currently leads the state government under Prime Minister Bodo Ramelow, has called on voters to reject the AfD's "divisive and dangerous" agenda and to stand up for a "tolerant and open" Thuringia. However, with the AfD riding a wave of popular discontent, it remains to be seen whether these efforts will be enough to counter the party's rising tide.
In the coming days, all eyes will be on Thuringia as the state prepares for what could be a watershed moment in German politics. The outcome of the election will not only determine the future of Thuringia but could also have a profound impact on the national political landscape, as the AfD seeks to expand its influence and challenge the dominance of the traditional parties. For many observers, the Thuringia election represents a critical test of Germany's democratic resilience in the face of rising populism and political polarization.
Good luck but the German government will probably just outlaw the party so their votes don’t count
The AfD is strong on immigration but not conservative by US standards at all - it has a history of attracting actual unreconstructed Nazis (national socialists), left wing hyper nationalism is bad actually.
Oh, the “far right” naughtzees?
“The AfD is strong on immigration but not conservative by US standards at all - it has a history of attracting actual unreconstructed Nazis (national socialists), left wing hyper nationalism is bad actually.”
This appears to be a meme emerging among Ukrainian Partisans.
I encourage you to make that case with specific policy positions taken by AfD. Especially if you could contrast that with positions taken by Trump.
Thanks.
The Left Party is the old Socialist Unity Party (SED), which ruled East Germany until the wall fell.
Here is its theme song:
The Song of the Party--Ernst Busch (1950)
"Inspired by Lenin, welded by Stalin..."
You can’t tell from the headline because the word “far right” has been so bastardized (on purpose) by the MSM.
Alternately, nobody or no party is EVER labeled “far left” “communist” or rarely even “socialist” any more.
Another example of not hating the press enough. I lived there. Thuringia is a cesspool of turd world violent Africans. The little village I live in had turds dumped on the villagers with no say. They ransacked the local church, they robbed all the shoppes, they attacked and harassed the locals, all the castrated polizei would say is, “you have to file a claim with the refugee office in Berlin.”
Those turds are incompatible with white Christian society. Not a single one expressed the tiniest bit of desire to fit in. They have their own countries. They need to stay in them. It is all romantic thinking you can plop them in your country and expect productive members of society as they adopt the local culture. But it doesn’t happen. When you live around these turds and see the destruction they bring s gets real. Third world s holes are third world s holes because the people there want it that way. They bring it everywhere they go.
See You Next Tuesday, Merkel, did just that when she didn’t like the results of an election. As punishment She dumped every African and Muslim turd in that state. Hitler, Stalin, Churchill, Roosevelt could not compete with the destruction that beeyotch brought upon Germany.
First plank of the party platform should be the execution of all former Stasi. Including Merkle.
Pingy
“Far right” = normal people. Only hope here and Germany.
Who? 😊👍
Where was your village? I lived in Weimar once for about a month.
I.e., a centrist party.
I taught at a couple tech schools. One in Dresden. Another tech school just south of Berlin. I also lived in some smaller villages outside Chemnitz and then spent a year or so in Bavaria just south of Munchen. Being in Weimar we may have been neighbors but I didn’t stay long there in Thuringia(Zwickau). I loved living in Germany. A good place to be a good looking guy with money in his pocket. And my goodness how I loved Poland, where my family came from.... Oh those Polish beauties.... Then, about 2015, Merkel opened the floodgates and the filth of the Islamic third world stunk up the whole place. I lost my residency despite being a productive tax payer (good God their taxes are insane) and taught college level courses for aircraft flight controls. She kicked out educated whites (myself, other Americans, and several South African whites all lost our residencies the same time) and made room for her Islamic and African pets because the natives just aren’t raping enough German girls and committing the crimes Germans don’t commit. Even worse. She kicked out poor Germans from public housing to house her invaders. This post would get me arrested there now.
“Far right” in German means supporting Trotsky over Stalin.
Even Poland is starting to get poisoned.
They were talking about how now in Zakopane in the south of the country, they are starting to get a lot of Arab tourists, and women wearing burkhas which is something up to a few years ago you’d never see in Poland.
I believe it’s part of a concerted effort to take over that part of Poland, first they come in as tourists, then you even have signs appearing in Arabic there, and touting Halal food. Then regular Poles move out, and the Arabs start buying properties there. Next thihg you know, there’s a mosque and everything else that comes with it.
Foolishly I thought Merkel would be a good counter to Putin’s rise to power as she knew the tactics of the Stasi and communists. Good lord I was right. She proved herself to be a dedicated stasi communist and a Germany has been smothered by her political beliefs.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.