AfD Secures Historic Win in Thuringia Election

Germany's far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) has secured a historic win in the regional election in Thuringia, with exit polls indicating it received between 30.5 and 33.5 percent of the vote. The party is also neck-and-neck with the conservative CDU in Saxony and is expected to perform well in Brandenburg later this month. This marks the first time since the Nazi era that a far-right party could hold the most seats in state parliaments. The AfD's campaign capitalized on public concerns about illegal immigration, security, and skepticism towards Germany's support for Ukraine. Despite their electoral success, other parties have vowed not to form coalitions with the AfD, making it unlikely for them to govern. This development signals significant challenges for Chancellor Olaf Scholz's Social Democrats, which performed poorly in these elections, ahead of the national elections in 2025.