The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) became the second largest party in the Bundestag, winning 20.8 percent of the vote in the federal elections.
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00:00In a major global development this week, Friedrich Moers is set to become Germany's 10th Chancellor.
00:05In the recent elections, his party, the Christian Democratic Union, CDU, secured the highest
00:10share of votes at 28.6%.
00:12However, global attention has shifted to the rise of the far-right, alternative for Germany,
00:17AfD, which emerged as the second-largest party with 21% of the vote.
00:21But despite its growing popularity, mainstream parties have ruled out forming a coalition
00:25with the AfD due to its nationalist policies and far-right ideology.
00:29In this video, we explore the rise of AfD and the increasing support for right-wing
00:33ideology in Germany.
00:39Founded in 2013, AfD initially positioned itself as a Eurosceptic party opposing Germany's
00:44financial bailouts of other countries.
00:46In its first election that same year, the party secured only 4.7% of the vote, falling
00:51short of the 5% threshold required to enter the Bundestag.
00:55Over the years, AfD shifted further to the right, adopting hardline stances against immigration,
01:00particularly Muslim migration, and rejecting climate policies.
01:04In the 2017 elections, the party gained 12.6% of the vote, securing 94 seats in the Bundestag.
01:10Although its vote share dropped to 10.3% in 2021, the 2025 elections saw the AfD nearly
01:16double its support.
01:17Led by its leader, Alice Wheatle, the party's campaign focused on immigration, economic
01:22concerns and nationalist policies.
01:24Their campaign emphasised strict immigration controls, mass deportations, abandoning the
01:28Euro and exiting NATO.
01:30The AfD also opposed Germany's involvement in the Ukraine conflict.
01:34These positions resonated particularly with voters in formerly communist East Germany,
01:38where economic disparities with the West remain significant, and younger residents often move
01:43westward in search of better education and job opportunities.
01:47Resentment against former Chancellor Angela Merkel's policy of spending money on helping
01:52other European countries was the highest in East Germany.
01:55But it's not just East Germany.
01:56The party also performed well in West Germany.
01:59The AfD won 36% votes in East Germany and 18% in West.
02:07Despite its electoral gains, mainstream parties have categorically refused to form a collision
02:12with the AfD, citing its extremist views and controversial policies.
02:15However, the newly elected coalition is already concerned about the AfD's rise and is seeking
02:20new ways to counter it.