September elections in Germany: The AfD party could win in as many as three federal states

Sunday, Aug 30, 2026

Denik Referendum

AfD’s rising influence in German regional elections poses a challenge to established parties, sparking debate over its political future.

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[This is an automatically generated summary, for reference only]

The Alternative for Germany (AfD), a nationalist and far-right populist party, is gaining significant traction in local elections across several German states, particularly in former East Germany, with polls showing strong support in Saxony-Anhalt, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, and Berlin. While previously isolated nationally, the AfD’s growing support could potentially allow it to form state governments this autumn. Analysts note that the AfD’s rise is fueled by regional disparities, immigration issues, differing views on the war in Ukraine, and cultural debates. Despite efforts by established parties like the CDU to block the AfD through broad coalitions, these efforts are weakening. The AfD’s platform includes proposals emphasizing German national identity, stricter immigration controls, and changes to education and media, which could be implemented at the state level. Debates continue in Germany regarding whether the AfD’s rhetoric crosses the line into extremist or unconstitutional territory.

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