Far-right AfD could win another state in Germany: Will immigrants be victimized?

With the election in the eastern German state of Brandenburg set for September 22, the fact that the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) is polling in first place is causing concern among broad segments of society.

Following the state parliamentary elections held in Thuringia and Saxony on September 1, approximately 2 million voters will head to the polls for the regional election in Brandenburg.

According to the latest public opinion polls, the far-right and anti-immigrant AfD is in first place with 28 percent, while Chancellor Olaf Scholz's Social Democratic Party (SPD) is expected to come in second with 27 percent, and the center-right Christian Democratic Union (CDU) is expected to be third with 14 percent.

AfD rally, Berlin

FAR-LEFT TO BE A 'KEY' PLAYER IN COALITION TALKS

In the last state parliamentary election held in 2019 in Brandenburg, known as an SPD stronghold, the SPD came in first with 26.2 percent, while the far-right AfD took second place with 23.5 percent.

According to polls, another party on the rise in Brandenburg, in addition to the AfD, is the left-wing populist Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance (BSW), which was only founded in January 2024. The BSW, which is expected to take fourth place with 13 percent, is anticipated to be a key party in coalition negotiations for the state government.

Other parties in Germany have long refused to form a coalition government with the far-right AfD, which has been monitored by domestic intelligence services due to its anti-democratic tendencies.

Rallies against the AfD are held from time to time in Berlin.

'FAR-RIGHT GAINED STRENGTH DUE TO REFUGEE WAVE'

Brandenburg Press Conference Chairman Benjamin Lassiwe also stated that the AfD has been strong in the state in recent years and is currently the leading party in public opinion polls.

Regarding the possibility of the AfD coming in first in the elections, Lassiwe said, 'This would be devastating for the image of the state of Brandenburg.'

Pointing out that the AfD feeds on latent xenophobia in the state, Lassiwe said, 'The AfD has gained strength due to the attack that took place in Solingen last month and the wave of refugees in recent years.'

Stating that people should not want a radical right-wing party to come to power in a state like Brandenburg, which is a center of the economy, Lassiwe added, 'The situation where many small parties fail to enter the state parliament also poses a danger.'

WHAT HAPPENS IF THE AfD COMES TO POWER?

Ercan Yaşaroğlu, who has lived in Germany for 42 years and has been active in various non-governmental organizations fighting against racism, said that if the AfD were to come to power at the federal level, immigrants in Germany would have to emigrate to avoid being victimized.

Speaking to AA, Yaşaroğlu said, 'If that AfD comes to power, the European Union will collapse, the danger of war will increase, and we immigrants will then have to emigrate to avoid being victimized. But I am in favor of taking a stand during this development process.'

Drawing attention to the fear of war, the future, high costs, and poverty prevailing in society, Yaşaroğlu continued:

'On top of this, society is shifting to the right and seeking security with the fear that our country is being lost. The votes the AfD receives are a reaction. But if they gain power as a result of this reaction, violence against us immigrants—that is, us being subjected to violence, being beaten, being burned or killed again, or being shot—will emerge.'

News Source: 12punto