The Rise of Germany’s Far-Right AfD

One in five Germans said they would vote for the far-right, populist party Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) in a recent poll, conducted between February 11 and 13. This would position the AfD in second place, following only after the center-right Christian Democratic Union and its Bavarian ally, the Christian Social Union (CDU/CSU), which together garnered 30 percent of the vote. The polling organization notes that these figures only capture the current political climate and that changes may yet occur based on short-term developments. Pollster YouGov has reported similar findings.

As the following chart shows, the AfD’s following has grown since its founding in 2013. Over the years, the party has continued to shift further towards the right and has been accused of racism, Islamophobia and extremism. Like other populist parties across Europe, the AfD has adopted an anti-immigration stance, including calling for mass deportations.

While it is unlikely that the AfD will form the next government, given that it is not projected to secure a majority and other parties have ruled out forming coalitions with it, its 20 percent support would hand it more seats in the German parliament, which would impact policymaking. Observers warn that the AfD could also maintain its momentum, potentially strengthening its base further by 2029. The recent polling trends highlight a growing division in the country. Mass protests have been held across Germany in opposition to the rise of the far-right.