Far-right AfD seeks electoral win in east German state Brandenburg

Germans began voting on September 22 in a regional election in Brandenburg, a former communist state where the far-right AfD party is slightly leading in polls. 

The anti-immigration Alternative for Germany has criticized Chancellor Olaf Scholz's unpopular coalition government, which faces national elections next year, Caliber.Az reports via foreign media.

The AfD aims to build on recent successes, having won a parliamentary vote in Thuringia and finished a close second in Saxony. A win in Brandenburg, which surrounds Berlin, would further undermine Scholz's Social Democrats (SPD), who have governed the state since reunification in 1990. Political scientist Benjamin Hoehne warned that a poor showing for the SPD could intensify debates about potential chancellor candidates.

Scholz's approval ratings have plummeted amid infighting, while his defence minister, Boris Pistorius, is gaining popularity. The CDU-CSU alliance recently named Friedrich Merz as their top candidate for the upcoming national elections.

Approximately 2.2 million voters over 16 are eligible in Brandenburg, which features both affluent areas like Potsdam and rural regions, including a Tesla plant. SPD state premier Dietmar Woidke, who has distanced himself from Scholz, has pledged to resign if the AfD wins.

Recent polls suggest the AfD may secure 27-29% of the vote, while the SPD follows closely with 25-26%. Despite this, the AfD is unlikely to govern due to other parties refusing to form a coalition with them.

The AfD has capitalized on public fears surrounding irregular migration, especially following a recent knife attack in Solingen. Many voters express dissatisfaction with current integration efforts. Additionally, a new left-wing populist party, the Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance, is polling at 13-14% and could play a significant role in shaping future coalitions.