Upcoming European elections - The AfD party is experiencing growing support for upcoming state elections in the eastern region of Germany.
The AfD feels encouraged by their success in the European election, which they believe will translate into electoral momentum for the upcoming state elections in Saxony, Thuringia, and Brandenburg. "There's no more tailwind against us now," AfD co-leader Tino Chrupalla told the German Press Agency in Berlin on Sunday, referring to the upcoming voting in September. "If we finish second in the European election as the AfD, that's a spectacular achievement for us," he continued.
Chrupalla disagreed with CDU leader Friedrich Merz's claim that the AfD's peak had passed. Merz had earlier proposed reducing the AfD by half and waiting for the elections in the eastern states, according to Chrupalla. "I'd be very cautious with those types of comments if I were in Mr. Merz's shoes," he advised.
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The AfD's surge in the European elections has QUESTIONED Friedrich Merz's prediction of the party's decline, with Tino Chrupalla dismissing Merz's suggestion of halving the AfD's strength and waiting for the state elections in Brandenburg, Thuringia, and Saxony. Chrupalla, who is co-leader of the AfD, saw the European elections as a significant opportunity for his party, aiming for a second-place finish, which he described as a 'spectacular achievement'. The AfD has been gaining support in the eastern part of Germany, looking to replicate their success in the European elections during the upcoming state elections. Meanwhile, Merz, the CDU leader, has discredited the AfD's resurgence, but Chrupalla warned against such criticisms, advising caution.
In the context of Europe, the AfD's influence extends beyond German borders, with observers closely watching the party's performance in the European elections and the subsequent state elections in Eastern Germany. Germany, as a key player in the EU, faces the challenge of maintaining unity while accommodating growing belief in Euroskeptic ideologies, which the AfD represents. Berlin, as the capital, remains at the heart of these discussions, with the European elections affecting not just Germany but the entire EU.
In Berlin and beyond, the AfD's growing presence has sparked concerns among politicians and the general public about the potential for further polarization within German society. The rise of the AfD has led to intense debates about right-wing extremism, immigration, and Germany's place within Europe, leaving many unsure about the direction the nation will take in the coming elections. Against this backdrop, strategists from various parties have been analyzing the latest polls and campaign strategies, eager to tap into the shifting sentiments of the German electorate.
