What to know as the far right wins its first state election in Germany since WWII

Bjoern Hoecke top candidate in Thuringia of the far-right Alternative for Germany, AfD, party waves to supporters during an election campaign rally in Suhl, Germany, Aug. 13.
Markus Schreiber/AP

Voters in two states in eastern Germany have delivered a far-right party its best result since World War II. The outcome of Sunday's elections in the states of Thüringen and Saxony has political observers worried about a resurgence of anti-immigrant, nationalist, populist politics in Germany and Europe.

Here are five takeaways from the elections:

1. The nationalist, anti-immigrant politics of the Alternative for Germany are becoming more popular in the country.

The Alternative for Germany, known by the German initials AfD, a nationalist party that routinely blames immigrants for many of Germany’s problems, has been around for 11 years. It rose in prominence six years ago after former Chancellor Angela Merkel allowed more than a million migrants from war-torn countries in the Middle East to resettle in Germany.

The AfD has become so notorious that it’s been placed under domestic surveillance for the threat that it poses to Germany’s constitution. Despite this, the party won the most seats in the election in Thüringen, with nearly a third of parliament (32.8 percent), and it nearly won the most seats in Saxony, with more than 30 percent of the vote.

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2. Unchecked migration in Germany is becoming one of voters’ biggest concerns.

German voters are becoming increasingly frustrated by a wave of migrants arriving in the country in recent years, especially now that Germany’s economy has stagnated.

This frustration peaked last month when a Syrian man stabbed to death three people and injured several others at a festival in the western German city of Solingen.

After the attack, it was discovered that the man was supposed to have been deported months ago, and it led to growing anger about Germany’s immigration system.

3. Despite big election gains, the AfD will likely be kept from participating in either states' government.

That’s because every other party in Germany has refused to enter into a coalition government with the AfD.

Still, the nationalist, Russia-friendly party could end up with enough seats in both states to block decisions requiring a two-thirds vote, such as the appointment of judges and top security officials.

A German with a bag reading "The east does it" attends an election campaign rally of the far-right Alternative for Germany, AfD, in Suhl, Germany, Aug. 13.
Markus Schreiber/AP

4. A party on the opposite end of the political spectrum from the AfD, the left-wing populist BSW, also made a big splash in both states.

The Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance, known as BSW, a party centered on a popular former communist party politician, won more than 15 percent of seats in Thüringen and more than 11 percent of seats in Saxony’s parliament, just eight months after the party was founded.

Like the AfD, the leftist party also advocates tightening immigration into Germany and opposes support for Ukraine, wanting a diplomatic solution to that country's war with Russia. The BSW’s strong showing is bad news for Germany’s Social Democrats, the party of Chancellor Olaf Scholz, which could see more left-leaning voters drawn away from the party.

5. What the election results may mean for next year’s federal election in Germany

Perhaps most interesting is that the three parties in power on a national level — the Social Democratic Party, the Green Party and the libertarian Free Democratic Party — all suffered big losses in these state elections, and it underscores how unpopular they’ve become with voters not only in the former East Germany, but nationally as well.

It's clear that in the next national election, the country will make a shift to the right. That will mean stricter immigration rules and a bigger focus on growing Germany’s stagnant economy. This is a trend playing out in other parts of Europe, too — namely France, where a strong showing by a right-wing party there has yet to produce a new government.