AfD Surges to Historic Second Place in German Elections

In the recent German federal elections, the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party achieved its best-ever result, securing approximately 19.5% of the vote, nearly doubling its 2021 share. The conservative Christian Democratic Union (CDU) led with about 29%, while the incumbent Social Democrats (SPD) fell to their worst performance since World War II at 16%. Following the elections, CDU leader Friedrich Merz is poised to become the next chancellor, though coalition negotiations will be complex as all mainstream parties have ruled out collaborating with the AfD. The rise of the AfD has been attributed to a campaign heavily focused on immigration, amidst a backdrop of violent incidents linked to asylum seekers. This surge has sparked significant public protests against the AfD, indicating a growing anti-fascist movement in Germany. Analysts are questioning the implications of the AfD's strengthened position in parliament and its potential influence on German political discourse.