The rise of the far right in Germany reached its peak with the victory of Alternative for Germany (AfD) in Thuringia. For the first time since the end of World War II, a far-right party has managed to become the most voted-for political force in a German state. The man behind this triumph is Bjorn Hockea controversial leader who has managed to channel the discontent of a significant part of the population in the east of the country.
Despite his electoral success, Höcke finds himself confronted with reality a sanitary cordon that remains sacred in GermanyThis tacit agreement between the political parties prevents the AfD from being part of the government, despite its electoral victory. However, the impact of this triumph is undeniable and has shaken the foundations of German politics.
Björn Höcke does not hide his ideological leanings. In his rallies, he has come to repeat phrases with Nazi reminiscences, such as the SS motto “Everything for Germany”which has sparked a wave of criticism. In his first interview after the victory, Höcke was visibly upset when asked about the AfD’s classification as a far-right party.
The journalist assured that “they are categorized as far-right” and Björn Höcke responded: “Please stop stigmatizing me. We are the number one party in Thuringia“One third of Thuringia’s voters should not be categorised as far-right.”
This has been a key element of Höcke’s strategy: to present itself not only as a protest party, but also as a legitimate and respectable alternative. The AfD has particularly managed to win the vote of citizens in East Germany, a region where the party has experienced notable growth. According to Héctor Sánchez, a researcher at CIDOB, “citizens in the East have not regained the purchasing power they had before. They feel like second-class citizens. Not represented by the elites.”
AfD’s discourse focuses on anti-Islam and anti-immigration rhetorichas found a strong echo in this region, even though there are far fewer foreigners there than in other parts of Germany. Ruth Ferrero, professor of political science at the Complutense University of Madrid, points out that “the problem is not the quantity, but the lack of integration”. Episodes such as the Solingen attack have served to fuel this discourse and reinforce a trend that, according to Ferrero, “was already marked since 2018. A party close to the Nazis, incredible that this happened in Germany”.
Höcke’s triumph in Thuringia is particularly symbolic. This state was the first to be ruled by the Nazis in 1930 and today, almost a century later, it sees the resurgence of a political force which many see as a threat to democracy in Germany.
