Parties in East Germany Brace for Far-Right AfD

The far-right AfD party, led by Björn Höcke, is leading in polls for upcoming elections in eastern German states Thuringia, Saxony, and Brandenburg. The rise of the AfD has raised concerns, particularly around the Buchenwald memorial, where the trivialization of the Holocaust is feared.

To counter the AfD, a new left-wing party, the Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance (BSW), has emerged, criticizing the current government. The CDU leader Friedrich Merz has called for tighter immigration policies following the Solligen attack.

Political analyst Carsten Koschmieder expects the AfD to be the strongest party in Saxony. Immigrants in Thuringia and Saxony fear a rise in racism and violence if the AfD wins.

The AfD is actively courting immigrant voters on social media, despite its anti-immigration rhetoric. The CDU is currently in power in Saxony under Michael Kretschmer.

The socialist Left Party (Die Linke) has previously governed Thuringia. The upcoming elections are crucial for the future government of Saxony and Thuringia, although forming a new government may prove challenging.

The role of the SPD is crucial in the face of the AfD's rise in popularity.