According to the Tokyo Shimbun, state elections were held on the 1st in the eastern German states of Thuringia and Saxony. The right-wing Alternative for Germany (AfD), which advocates the exclusion of immigrants and refugees, made great strides and became the largest party in Thuringia. Even 34 years after reunification, the former East Germany region still has an economic gap with the former West Germany, and economic anxiety and dissatisfaction with the government over the influx of immigrants are spreading.
The AfD is calling for an end to the acceptance of immigrants and refugees, and for an end to the supply of arms to Ukraine. The movement to expand its support is likely to influence national politics ahead of a general election in September next year.
However, no party has achieved a majority on its own in any state, so the focus will be on coalition negotiations that follow. Major political parties have ruled out a coalition with the AfD, making it unlikely that the AfD will form a state government.
Germany's intelligence agency has said it suspects the AfD of being a far-right group, and has designated AfD branches in the two states as "far-right organizations" based on their radical statements.
