Far-right AfD sees gains but falls short of victory in local elections

The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) has faced a setback in its longtime stronghold, signaling potential trouble for its performance in the upcoming European Parliament elections. Despite making gains in local elections in the state of Thuringia, the party failed to secure outright victories, raising concerns about its future prospects.

The recent elections at county and mayoral level in Thuringia saw AfD gaining nearly nine points compared to 2019, capturing around 26% of the vote. However, the party fell slightly behind the centre-right Christian Democratic Union (CDU), Germany’s main national opposition party, which maintained steady support.

AfD’s local leader, Björn Höcke, who plans to run for the governor’s job in the upcoming state election on 1 September, has been embroiled in controversy. He was recently convicted of using a Nazi slogan in a speech, leading to a fine of €13,000 and ongoing legal challenges.

Despite initially winning a county leadership post in Thuringia last year, AfD now faces tough runoff votes on 9 June, with observers predicting potential losses as mainstream party supporters rally against the far-right party. The party’s recent scandals and legal troubles have also contributed to its declining popularity in the lead-up to the European Parliament elections.

While the CDU remains ahead in polls for the EU Parliament elections, various right-wing and far-right parties are vying for support across the bloc. As AfD grapples with internal challenges and external scrutiny, its performance in the European elections remains uncertain.