AfD, which secured a dramatic victory at the September 2026 Saxony-Anhalt state election, is driven by politics of anti-immigrant and anti-same-sex marriage, which are sometimes considered outright racist. Alice Weidel, the co-leader of the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party who had been at the centre of the party's rise, has been a controversial figure, not because of her speeches but because of her homosexual identity.<h2>Who is Alice Weidel?</h2>The 45-year-old is married to a Sri Lankan-born woman, a filmmaker and is raising two children, primarily in Einsiedeln, Switzerland. Weidel described her upbringing as highly political. Her parents did not belong to any political party, but her grandfather was a prominent Nazi judge, according to the German newspaper Die Welt and her family was expelled from Silesia, now in Poland, after World War Two.&nbsp;She studied Business and economics and joined Goldman Sachs, grew bored and moved to China, where she learned Mandarin and got a doctorate in the Chinese pension system while working as a Business Consultant.She joined AfD in 2013 during the Eurozone bailout; her party opposed it vehemently. Soon, the party started to take more anti-immigration stances. Weidel modelled herself around the economic policies of the neoliberal British leader Margaret Thatcher and argued for a Brexit-style referendum on EU membership.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/peskov-russia-brics-transactions-national-currencies-1788862059036">BRICS 2026: Russia says over 90% of Russia-BRICS trade settled in national currencies</a>In 2016, the party shifted from conservative economic and immigration policies to a more neo-conservative position with the adoption of the Stuttgart Manifesto- the party's first formal manifesto. It identified family exclusively as a mother, father, and children. It introduced proposals such as stopping sexual diversity education in schools as “early sexualisation”. They formally declared opposition to full marriage equality.Alice's own sexual identity becomes paradoxical in AfD. The co-leader of an anti-immigrant and anti-LGBTQ+ party, AfD – with which the mainstream right in Germany is hesitant to associate – is herself homosexual and married to an immigrant.&nbsp;When confronted about why, as a lesbian woman, she is a member of a homophobic party, she said that because she is a lesbian and co-leader of AfD is a political message. According to her, violence against gays comes especially from ‘Muslim gangs’, they will provide safety to homosexuals by tackling the immigration problem.&nbsp;

Alice Weidel, AfD co-leader, has emerged as a key figure in Germany's far-right rise despite being openly lesbian and married to an immigrant.

AfD, which secured a dramatic victory at the September 2026 Saxony-Anhalt state election, is driven by politics of anti-immigrant and anti-same-sex marriage, which are sometimes considered outright racist. Alice Weidel, the co-leader of the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party who had been at the centre of the party's rise, has been a controversial figure, not because of her speeches but because of her homosexual identity. Who is Alice Weidel? The 45-year-old is married to a Sri Lankan-born woman, a filmmaker and is raising two children, primarily in Einsiedeln, Switzerland. Weidel described her upbringing as highly political. Her parents did not belong to any political party, but her grandfather was a prominent Nazi judge, according to the German newspaper Die Welt and her family was expelled from Silesia, now in Poland, after World War Two. She studied Business and economics and joined Goldman Sachs, grew bored and moved to China, where she learned Mandarin and got a doctorate in the Chinese pension system while working as a Business Consultant. She joined AfD in 2013 during the Eurozone bailout; her party opposed it vehemently. Soon, the party started to take more anti-immigration stances. Weidel modelled herself around the economic policies of the neoliberal British leader Margaret Thatcher and argued for a Brexit-style referendum on EU membership. Also Read: BRICS 2026: Russia says over 90% of Russia-BRICS trade settled in national currencies In 2016, the party shifted from conservative economic and immigration policies to a more neo-conservative position with the adoption of the Stuttgart Manifesto- the party's first formal manifesto. It identified family exclusively as a mother, father, and children. It introduced proposals such as stopping sexual diversity education in schools as “early sexualisation”. They formally declared opposition to full marriage equality. Alice's own sexual identity becomes paradoxical in AfD. The co-leader of an anti-immigrant and anti-LGBTQ+ party, AfD – with which the mainstream right in Germany is hesitant to associate – is herself homosexual and married to an immigrant. When confronted about why, as a lesbian woman, she is a member of a homophobic party, she said that because she is a lesbian and co-leader of AfD is a political message. According to her, violence against gays comes especially from ‘Muslim gangs’, they will provide safety to homosexuals by tackling the immigration problem.

Alice Weidel, AfD co-leader, has emerged as a key figure in Germany's far-right rise despite being openly lesbian and married to an immigrant.

Who is Alice Weidel? The openly lesbian AfD leader driving Germany's far-right rise

The MAGA movement in the US has celebrated the result in Saxony-Anhalt: the extreme right AfD (Alternative for Germany) secured a historic landslide win for the first time since the fall of the Third Reich. They secured 43.8 per cent of the vote in the ex-communist east, putting them far ahead of the centre-right CDU (Christian Democratic Union). This is their highest-ever percentage in a state election.&nbsp;The AfD explicitly borrowed the Trump playbook during the campaign with catchphrases resembling those of MAGA: “make Germany great again”, using anti immigration, anti-woke, ultra-nationalistic, highly Islamophobic, and Euro-sceptic rhetoric. US President Donald Trump swiftly posted the Saxony-Anhalt exit poll on his Truth Social platform on Sunday, though he did not explicitly respond to the election results on Sunday.&nbsp;Former US ambassador to Germany during Trump's first term, Richard Grenell, celebrated the results as "a huge win and a new day in Germany." He claimed that people are “ready to change”. The richest man on the planet, Elon Musk, also joined in reposting the AfD's co-leader Alice Weidel's post, “Well done!”Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/israel-katz-threatens-full-scale-war-palestinian-authority-1788790189353">Israel Katz threatens 'full-scale war' against Palestinian Authority after Israeli settler stabbed in West Bank</a>The victorious AfD candidate, Ulrich Siegmund, who ran an explicitly Trump-inspired campaign, publicly thanked Musk and expressed eagerness for future "strong and constructive cooperation."&nbsp;“Thank you, @elonmusk, for your support and for your clear and highly important perspective on the political developments of our time — including here in Germany,” said Ulrich Siegmund in a post on X.Russian Direct Investment Fund CEO Kirill Dmitriev framed the result as “historic” and total “humiliation” for Friedrich Merz. He said the national government led by the centre-right Friedrich Merz's CDU (Christian Democratic Union) was "discredited." Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orbán hailed the political developments as "a huge night for Germany and Europe." Spain's right-wing Vox party framed it as a beacon of "great hope." &nbsp;While support from European far-right parties is ideological, Russian support is a more strategic choice. The German government is the single largest donor to Ukraine; in comparison, the AfD is considered more favourable to Russia, as it advocates cutting aid to Ukraine, halting sanctions on Moscow and starting to purchase cheap Russian energy.Similarly, the support from MAGA is not merely ideological but part of the US national security strategy. The December 2025 US National Security Strategy document explicitly advocates for supporting nationalist and populist movements, providing tangible support to the far-right ecosystem in Europe to cultivate a resistance to the current trajectory of European nations. The document claimed that Europe faces "the real and more stark prospect of civilizational erasure" due to unregulated immigration, cratering birth rates, and "regulatory suffocation" by transnational bodies like the EU.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

The MAGA movement has celebrated the AfD's landslide victory in Saxony-Anhalt, highlighting growing links between Trump's political movement and Germany's far right.

The MAGA movement in the US has celebrated the result in Saxony-Anhalt: the extreme right AfD (Alternative for Germany) secured a historic landslide win for the first time since the fall of the Third Reich. They secured 43.8 per cent of the vote in the ex-communist east, putting them far ahead of the centre-right CDU (Christian Democratic Union). This is their highest-ever percentage in a state election. The AfD explicitly borrowed the Trump playbook during the campaign with catchphrases resembling those of MAGA: “make Germany great again”, using anti immigration, anti-woke, ultra-nationalistic, highly Islamophobic, and Euro-sceptic rhetoric. US President Donald Trump swiftly posted the Saxony-Anhalt exit poll on his Truth Social platform on Sunday, though he did not explicitly respond to the election results on Sunday. Former US ambassador to Germany during Trump's first term, Richard Grenell, celebrated the results as "a huge win and a new day in Germany." He claimed that people are “ready to change”. The richest man on the planet, Elon Musk, also joined in reposting the AfD's co-leader Alice Weidel's post, “Well done!” Also Read: Israel Katz threatens 'full-scale war' against Palestinian Authority after Israeli settler stabbed in West Bank The victorious AfD candidate, Ulrich Siegmund, who ran an explicitly Trump-inspired campaign, publicly thanked Musk and expressed eagerness for future "strong and constructive cooperation." “Thank you, @elonmusk, for your support and for your clear and highly important perspective on the political developments of our time — including here in Germany,” said Ulrich Siegmund in a post on X. Russian Direct Investment Fund CEO Kirill Dmitriev framed the result as “historic” and total “humiliation” for Friedrich Merz. He said the national government led by the centre-right Friedrich Merz's CDU (Christian Democratic Union) was "discredited." Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orbán hailed the political developments as "a huge night for Germany and Europe." Spain's right-wing Vox party framed it as a beacon of "great hope." While support from European far-right parties is ideological, Russian support is a more strategic choice. The German government is the single largest donor to Ukraine; in comparison, the AfD is considered more favourable to Russia, as it advocates cutting aid to Ukraine, halting sanctions on Moscow and starting to purchase cheap Russian energy. Similarly, the support from MAGA is not merely ideological but part of the US national security strategy. The December 2025 US National Security Strategy document explicitly advocates for supporting nationalist and populist movements, providing tangible support to the far-right ecosystem in Europe to cultivate a resistance to the current trajectory of European nations. The document claimed that Europe faces "the real and more stark prospect of civilizational erasure" due to unregulated immigration, cratering birth rates, and "regulatory suffocation" by transnational bodies like the EU.

The MAGA movement has celebrated the AfD's landslide victory in Saxony-Anhalt, highlighting growing links between Trump's political movement and Germany's far right.

MAGA rejoices as far-right AfD wins in Germany for first time since Third Reich

In a historic turnaround, the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party has won the election in the eastern state of Saxony-Anhalt. Exit polls for the ARD broadcaster suggested that the hard-Right nationalist party won 44.2 per cent of the vote. This is the first time that AfD is winning a regional parliament since the end of Nazi rule in 1945. The votes are more than twice what the incumbent centre-right Christian Democrats (CDU), led by Chancellor Friedrich Merz, got at 17.4 per cent. AfD’s lead candidate Ulrich Siegmund said, “We have made history in this state.”<h2>What does the win for Alternative for Germany (AfD) mean for Germany?</h2>&nbsp;The xenophobic and anti-migration party has sent shockwaves throughout the country after bagging a large chunk of the votes. The party has proposed major changes across several areas, including migration, issues linked to LGBTQ, schools, and public broadcasters.<h2>Anti-migration stand</h2>Migrants are on target for AfD as the party pledged to "protect the homeland" from illegal migrants by shutting the border and deporting them. The party also wants to ban LGBTQ rainbow flags in state schools. Ulrich Siegmund, who leads the party in the state of Saxony-Anhalt, has also talked about ending compulsory school attendance and rewriting history books. He apparently isn't happy with the amount of negative content on the Third Reich, the dictatorship of Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party between 1933 and 1945.&nbsp;He also wants to reform the public broadcasters and stop the construction of wind farms, an area US President Donald Trump also openly resents. People in the country are scared of a hard-Right party taking control of a state as thousands rallied against it on Saturday in Magdeburg, the regional capital. The banners clearly announced their fears aloud, as one read, "Life is better without Nazis".<h2>Migrant crimes in Germany</h2>Meanwhile, Siegmund told supporters that what the party has started in Saxony-Anhalt "is currently sweeping across all of Germany and can no longer be stopped." German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, the CDU leader's popularity has been diminishing. Illegal migration has been a problem for the country, with 15 million of them entering the country, most of them illegally.&nbsp;Former Chancellor Angela Merkel had opened the border to Syrians fleeing civil war.&nbsp;According to police figures, rapes and sexual assaults have been rising in the country, and most of them were carried out by individuals during the migrant surge.&nbsp; &nbsp;

Alternative for Germany (AfD) party's win in Germany is an Earth-shattering change for the country, as it has won a regional parliament for the first time since the end of Nazi rule. Ulrich Siegmund has proposed drastic measures for schools and migrants. 

In a historic turnaround, the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party has won the election in the eastern state of Saxony-Anhalt. Exit polls for the ARD broadcaster suggested that the hard-Right nationalist party won 44.2 per cent of the vote. This is the first time that AfD is winning a regional parliament since the end of Nazi rule in 1945. The votes are more than twice what the incumbent centre-right Christian Democrats (CDU), led by Chancellor Friedrich Merz, got at 17.4 per cent. AfD’s lead candidate Ulrich Siegmund said, “We have made history in this state.” What does the win for Alternative for Germany (AfD) mean for Germany? The xenophobic and anti-migration party has sent shockwaves throughout the country after bagging a large chunk of the votes. The party has proposed major changes across several areas, including migration, issues linked to LGBTQ, schools, and public broadcasters. Anti-migration stand Migrants are on target for AfD as the party pledged to "protect the homeland" from illegal migrants by shutting the border and deporting them. The party also wants to ban LGBTQ rainbow flags in state schools. Ulrich Siegmund, who leads the party in the state of Saxony-Anhalt, has also talked about ending compulsory school attendance and rewriting history books. He apparently isn't happy with the amount of negative content on the Third Reich, the dictatorship of Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party between 1933 and 1945. He also wants to reform the public broadcasters and stop the construction of wind farms, an area US President Donald Trump also openly resents. People in the country are scared of a hard-Right party taking control of a state as thousands rallied against it on Saturday in Magdeburg, the regional capital. The banners clearly announced their fears aloud, as one read, "Life is better without Nazis". Migrant crimes in Germany Meanwhile, Siegmund told supporters that what the party has started in Saxony-Anhalt "is currently sweeping across all of Germany and can no longer be stopped." German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, the CDU leader's popularity has been diminishing. Illegal migration has been a problem for the country, with 15 million of them entering the country, most of them illegally. Former Chancellor Angela Merkel had opened the border to Syrians fleeing civil war. According to police figures, rapes and sexual assaults have been rising in the country, and most of them were carried out by individuals during the migrant surge.

Alternative for Germany (AfD) party's win in Germany is an Earth-shattering change for the country, as it has won a regional parliament for the first time since the end of Nazi rule. Ulrich Siegmund has proposed drastic measures for schools and migrants.&nbsp;

What a win for Alternative for Germany (AfD) party mean for Germany?

In Germany, on Sunday, a far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) candidate won a vote to become a district leader, marking a significant breakthrough for the party. The AfD, which is considered radical by mainstream parties and faces refusal of cooperation, secured victory in the Sonnenberg district in Thuringia with 52.8 per cent of the vote.&nbsp;

<h2>What does AfD's success mean for Germany?</h2>

This success, as per Guardian, follows the party's record-high national poll ratings and reflects popular discontent with the governing coalition led by Social Democrat Chancellor Olaf Scholz, which has faced challenges over policy and the budget.

<h2>What's the secret of AfD's success?</h2>

The AfD, which was polling at around 19 per cent-20 per cent, has tapped into voter concerns regarding economic recession, migration, and the transition to green policies.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/texas-airport-worker-dies-after-being-sucked-into-plane-engine-investigation-underway-608687">US: Airport worker dies after being sucked into plane engine; investigation underway</a>

It has a strong presence in the former Communist East, and polls suggest the party may win three eastern state votes next year.

As per analysts, the "clear" district victory of Robert Sesselmann, an AfD candidate, against a conservative candidate sends a signal to Berlin, especially as all other parties in Sonneberg formed a united front against him.

Riding on the success, the party as per the Reuters report, even plans to nominate a chancellor candidate in the 2025 federal election.&nbsp;

However, the rise of far-right parties, particularly the AfD, remains sensitive in Germany due to the country's Nazi past.

<h2>A 'watershed' moment</h2>

The President of the Central Council of Jews in Germany, Josef Schuster, expressed deep shock at the AfD's victory, emphasising that democratic political forces in the country should not simply accept it.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/wagner-chief-prigozhin-lost-his-nerve-in-calling-off-rebellion-ex-cia-chief-608701">Wagner chief Prigozhin 'lost his nerve' in calling off rebellion: Ex-CIA chief</a>

Talking to RND Media, he said "This is a watershed that this country's democratic political forces cannot simply accept."&nbsp;

<h2>Why are some elements against AfD?</h2>

The AfD opposes economic sanctions on Russia over the Ukraine conflict and even denies that human activity is a significant cause of climate change.&nbsp;

Reuters reports&nbsp;that this month Germany's domestic intelligence agency has identified far-right extremism as the biggest threat to democracy in the country and warned voters about supporting the AfD. Founded as an anti-euro party a decade ago, the AfD gained popularity following the 2015 migrant crisis and entered parliament in 2017 as the official opposition.

(With inputs from agencies)

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In Germany, on Sunday, a far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) candidate won a vote to become a district leader, marking a significant breakthrough for the party.

In Germany, on Sunday, a far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) candidate won a vote to become a district leader, marking a significant breakthrough for the party. The AfD, which is considered radical by mainstream parties and faces refusal of cooperation, secured victory in the Sonnenberg district in Thuringia with 52.8 per cent of the vote. What does AfD's success mean for Germany? This success, as per Guardian, follows the party's record-high national poll ratings and reflects popular discontent with the governing coalition led by Social Democrat Chancellor Olaf Scholz, which has faced challenges over policy and the budget. What's the secret of AfD's success? The AfD, which was polling at around 19 per cent-20 per cent, has tapped into voter concerns regarding economic recession, migration, and the transition to green policies. Also read | US: Airport worker dies after being sucked into plane engine; investigation underway It has a strong presence in the former Communist East, and polls suggest the party may win three eastern state votes next year. As per analysts, the "clear" district victory of Robert Sesselmann, an AfD candidate, against a conservative candidate sends a signal to Berlin, especially as all other parties in Sonneberg formed a united front against him. Riding on the success, the party as per the Reuters report, even plans to nominate a chancellor candidate in the 2025 federal election. However, the rise of far-right parties, particularly the AfD, remains sensitive in Germany due to the country's Nazi past. A 'watershed' moment The President of the Central Council of Jews in Germany, Josef Schuster, expressed deep shock at the AfD's victory, emphasising that democratic political forces in the country should not simply accept it. Also read | Wagner chief Prigozhin 'lost his nerve' in calling off rebellion: Ex-CIA chief Talking to RND Media, he said "This is a watershed that this country's democratic political forces cannot simply accept." Why are some elements against AfD? The AfD opposes economic sanctions on Russia over the Ukraine conflict and even denies that human activity is a significant cause of climate change. Reuters reports that this month Germany's domestic intelligence agency has identified far-right extremism as the biggest threat to democracy in the country and warned voters about supporting the AfD. Founded as an anti-euro party a decade ago, the AfD gained popularity following the 2015 migrant crisis and entered parliament in 2017 as the official opposition. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Far-right party Alternative for Germany's candidate becomes district leader for first time

The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) is riding high in the polls to the alarm of mainstream parties and is on track to win three state votes in the east of the country with calls to stop migration and curb what it sees as a costly green agenda.

AfD is polling 17-19% nationwide, around a record high for the party that now vies with Chancellor Olaf Scholz's Social Democrats for second place in some surveys, up from fifth in the 2021 election when it secured 10.3% of the vote.

It was last at such highs in 2018 after Europe's migrant crisis. This time, the nationalist, anti-immigrant party has also benefited from infighting in Scholz's three-way coalition.

Far-right parties have gained ground across Europe. In France, the far-right has become a stronger rival at the ballot box, while in Italy and Sweden, they are now are in government.

But the rise of the AfD, which lambasts the German government for high immigration levels, surging inflation and a costly green transition, touches a particularly sensitive nerve in Germany because of the country's Nazi past.

Germany's domestic spy agency has branded the AfD's youth wing "extremist", saying it propagated "a racial concept of society". The spy agency's head has also accused the AfD, which opposes sanctions on Russia, of helping spread Russian propaganda about the Ukraine war.

Germany's main parties have ruled out cooperating with the AfD to keep it out of government, but the AfD's critics worry that it is dragging mainstream politics further right.

"We are seeing the rhetoric on topics like migration get shriller," said Stefan Marschall, political scientist at the University of Duesseldorf.

Migration is moving up Germany's political agenda. Michael Kretschmer, the premier of the east German state of Saxony and who is from the right of centre Christian Democratic Union (CDU), said last week that the number of migrants was "too big", calling for limits on refugees allowed in and cuts to benefits.

<h2>The cost of transition</h2>

The CDU's national leader, Friederich Merz, has however dismissed any comparisons with the AfD, saying in comments on Sunday that his party's language was "nothing like" the AfD's.

Meanwhile, Interior Minister Nancy Faeser has partly blamed the AfD for stoking anti-immigrant attitudes that have fuelled a rise in attacks on refugees. The AfD denies this.

The AfD, which disputes that human activity is a cause of climate change, has also tapped into concerns among some voters about the cost of the transition away from fossil fuels.

AfD leader Tino Chrupalla said more voters appreciated that the policies of the Greens, Scholz's junior coalition partner which wants a swifter shift away from hydrocarbons, brought "economic war, inflation and de-industrialisation."

"We are the only party that would not form a coalition with these dangerous Greens," he said.

In Thueringen, Saxony and Brandenburg, the east German states that are holding state elections in 2024, the AfD is on track to top voting for the first time, with surveys showing its support at 23%-28%.

Analysts say voters in the east, where party loyalties are less well-established, have been more receptive to the AfD in part because they blame mainstream parties that have rotated through various governments over the years for lower incomes that persist in the east, three decades after reunification.

Even if the AfD's is kept out of power, its rise has sucked votes from other parties, forcing them into more unwieldy coalitions at state and national levels, particularly in the east where the AfD is strongest.

<h2>Wave of discontent</h2>

Marc Debus, a political scientist at Mannheim University, said it could bolster calls among some voters for conservatives in particular to work more closely with the AfD, even if not in a formal coalition, rather than aligning with the left.

Some AfD initiatives have won backing from mainstream voters on the more local level. In December, members of the CDU in the small town of Bautzen in Saxony voted in favour of an AfD proposal to cut some benefits, such as language courses for migrants whose asylum applications had been rejected.

"This dogmatic way in Berlin of excluding the AfD, saying they are all Nazis, is wrong," said Matthias Grahl, head of the CDU in the Bautzen district council.

Others say the AfD is riding a wave of discontent because of a confluence of crises that will not last. Inflation has already dipped from its peak and sky-high energy prices over the winter, fuelled by the Ukraine war, have eased.

Wolfgang Buechner, a Scholz government spokesman, said he was confident the coalition could whittle away at AfD support.

"The chancellor is optimistic that if we do good work and solve the problems of this country ... then we will not need to worry much longer about this topic," he said.

The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) is riding high in the polls to the alarm of mainstream parties and is on track to win three state votes in the east of the country with calls to stop migration and curb what it sees as a costly green agenda.

The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) is riding high in the polls to the alarm of mainstream parties and is on track to win three state votes in the east of the country with calls to stop migration and curb what it sees as a costly green agenda. AfD is polling 17-19% nationwide, around a record high for the party that now vies with Chancellor Olaf Scholz's Social Democrats for second place in some surveys, up from fifth in the 2021 election when it secured 10.3% of the vote. It was last at such highs in 2018 after Europe's migrant crisis. This time, the nationalist, anti-immigrant party has also benefited from infighting in Scholz's three-way coalition. Far-right parties have gained ground across Europe. In France, the far-right has become a stronger rival at the ballot box, while in Italy and Sweden, they are now are in government. But the rise of the AfD, which lambasts the German government for high immigration levels, surging inflation and a costly green transition, touches a particularly sensitive nerve in Germany because of the country's Nazi past. Germany's domestic spy agency has branded the AfD's youth wing "extremist", saying it propagated "a racial concept of society". The spy agency's head has also accused the AfD, which opposes sanctions on Russia, of helping spread Russian propaganda about the Ukraine war. Germany's main parties have ruled out cooperating with the AfD to keep it out of government, but the AfD's critics worry that it is dragging mainstream politics further right. "We are seeing the rhetoric on topics like migration get shriller," said Stefan Marschall, political scientist at the University of Duesseldorf. Migration is moving up Germany's political agenda. Michael Kretschmer, the premier of the east German state of Saxony and who is from the right of centre Christian Democratic Union (CDU), said last week that the number of migrants was "too big", calling for limits on refugees allowed in and cuts to benefits. The cost of transition The CDU's national leader, Friederich Merz, has however dismissed any comparisons with the AfD, saying in comments on Sunday that his party's language was "nothing like" the AfD's. Meanwhile, Interior Minister Nancy Faeser has partly blamed the AfD for stoking anti-immigrant attitudes that have fuelled a rise in attacks on refugees. The AfD denies this. The AfD, which disputes that human activity is a cause of climate change, has also tapped into concerns among some voters about the cost of the transition away from fossil fuels. AfD leader Tino Chrupalla said more voters appreciated that the policies of the Greens, Scholz's junior coalition partner which wants a swifter shift away from hydrocarbons, brought "economic war, inflation and de-industrialisation." "We are the only party that would not form a coalition with these dangerous Greens," he said. In Thueringen, Saxony and Brandenburg, the east German states that are holding state elections in 2024, the AfD is on track to top voting for the first time, with surveys showing its support at 23%-28%. Analysts say voters in the east, where party loyalties are less well-established, have been more receptive to the AfD in part because they blame mainstream parties that have rotated through various governments over the years for lower incomes that persist in the east, three decades after reunification. Even if the AfD's is kept out of power, its rise has sucked votes from other parties, forcing them into more unwieldy coalitions at state and national levels, particularly in the east where the AfD is strongest. Wave of discontent Marc Debus, a political scientist at Mannheim University, said it could bolster calls among some voters for conservatives in particular to work more closely with the AfD, even if not in a formal coalition, rather than aligning with the left. Some AfD initiatives have won backing from mainstream voters on the more local level. In December, members of the CDU in the small town of Bautzen in Saxony voted in favour of an AfD proposal to cut some benefits, such as language courses for migrants whose asylum applications had been rejected. "This dogmatic way in Berlin of excluding the AfD, saying they are all Nazis, is wrong," said Matthias Grahl, head of the CDU in the Bautzen district council. Others say the AfD is riding a wave of discontent because of a confluence of crises that will not last. Inflation has already dipped from its peak and sky-high energy prices over the winter, fuelled by the Ukraine war, have eased. Wolfgang Buechner, a Scholz government spokesman, said he was confident the coalition could whittle away at AfD support. "The chancellor is optimistic that if we do good work and solve the problems of this country ... then we will not need to worry much longer about this topic," he said.

Analysis: Germany's far-right rides high on anti-immigration, anti-green agenda

Germany Chancellor Angela Merkel's conservatives slumped to a record low and fell further behind the resurgent opposition Greens in a survey published on Saturday, reflecting growing disillusionment with the ruling coalition.

Doubts are mounting that Merkel's right-left alliance can last its full term until 2021, largely due to disarray within her Social Democrat (SPD) partners, and many experts now see increasing chances of a federal election next year.

The Forsa poll put the conservative bloc on 24%, down two points from a week ago.

The Social Democrats (SPD) remained stuck at their low of 12% - level with the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) - a week after their leader quit because of a dismal performance in regional and European elections. Many members want to quit the government and rebuild in opposition.

The Greens, buoyed by growing concern across Europe about climate change, which helped propel them to second place in European Parliament elections, remained the most popular party, on 27%.

"The Greens are benefiting from high voter mobilisation, the self-destruction of the SPD and attempts by the conservatives to trump the Greens on climate protection," said Forsa chief Manfred Guellner.

If Merkel's coalition collapses, Germany faces the possibilities of a snap election, a minority government or an unwieldy alliance of three blocs.

Any of those scenarios would be likely to hasten the exit of Merkel, chancellor for almost 14 years, who has handed over the leadership of her Christian Democrats (CDU) to protege Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer. Merkel has said she will not stand again as chancellor of Europe's biggest economy.

Kramp-Karrenbauer has failed to boost the CDU and in the Forsa poll, only 19% of respondents said they would back her as chancellor in a direct vote, two points down from a week ago.

The SPD has yet to decide how to elect their next leader and no one has yet stepped forward.

The weekly Der Spiegel ran a title story on Kevin Kuehnert, the hoody-wearing 29-year-old head of the SPD youth wing, a divisive figure who campaigned against the grand coalition last year and wants to shift the party to the left.

It quoted some party members as saying they would like him to stand as a leader and others saying it would be madness.

The media-savvy Kuehnert is no stranger to controversy; last month he caused a storm by saying companies such as carmaker BMW should be taken into collective ownership.

Germany Chancellor Angela Merkel's conservatives slumped to a record low and fell further behind the resurgent opposition Greens in a survey published on Saturday, reflecting growing disillusionment with the ruling coalition.

Germany Chancellor Angela Merkel's conservatives slumped to a record low and fell further behind the resurgent opposition Greens in a survey published on Saturday, reflecting growing disillusionment with the ruling coalition. Doubts are mounting that Merkel's right-left alliance can last its full term until 2021, largely due to disarray within her Social Democrat (SPD) partners, and many experts now see increasing chances of a federal election next year. The Forsa poll put the conservative bloc on 24%, down two points from a week ago. The Social Democrats (SPD) remained stuck at their low of 12% - level with the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) - a week after their leader quit because of a dismal performance in regional and European elections. Many members want to quit the government and rebuild in opposition. The Greens, buoyed by growing concern across Europe about climate change, which helped propel them to second place in European Parliament elections, remained the most popular party, on 27%. "The Greens are benefiting from high voter mobilisation, the self-destruction of the SPD and attempts by the conservatives to trump the Greens on climate protection," said Forsa chief Manfred Guellner. If Merkel's coalition collapses, Germany faces the possibilities of a snap election, a minority government or an unwieldy alliance of three blocs. Any of those scenarios would be likely to hasten the exit of Merkel, chancellor for almost 14 years, who has handed over the leadership of her Christian Democrats (CDU) to protege Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer. Merkel has said she will not stand again as chancellor of Europe's biggest economy. Kramp-Karrenbauer has failed to boost the CDU and in the Forsa poll, only 19% of respondents said they would back her as chancellor in a direct vote, two points down from a week ago. The SPD has yet to decide how to elect their next leader and no one has yet stepped forward. The weekly Der Spiegel ran a title story on Kevin Kuehnert, the hoody-wearing 29-year-old head of the SPD youth wing, a divisive figure who campaigned against the grand coalition last year and wants to shift the party to the left. It quoted some party members as saying they would like him to stand as a leader and others saying it would be madness. The media-savvy Kuehnert is no stranger to controversy; last month he caused a storm by saying companies such as carmaker BMW should be taken into collective ownership.

Angela Merkel's conservatives hit new low, piling pressure on coalition

Thousands of anti-racism campaigners, left-wingers and techno lovers are expected to pack the streets of Berlin on Sunday to protest a rally called by the far-right AfD party, with police deploying in force to keep the peace.

Uniting under the banner "Stop the hatred", counter-demonstrators say they want to drown out the march by the anti-immigration, anti-Islam Alternative for Germany (AfD).

But AfD members have accused some opponents of threatening to use violence.

The party's "Future of Germany" march, slated to start outside Berlin's main train station at midday (1000 GMT) and end at the iconic Brandenburg Gate, marks the first public show of strength by the nationalist outfit since it became the largest opposition party.

Scheduled to address the crowd are top AfD'ers Joerg Meuthen and Alexander Gauland, who regularly rail against Chancellor Angela Merkel's decision to allow in large numbers of mostly Muslim refugees at the height of Europe's migrant crisis.

"We want to show everyone that along with millions of Germans across the country we are worried about Germany's future," Berlin AfD chief Georg Pazderski told a pre-march press conference.

After predicting 10,000 AfD supporters would show up, organisers later scaled back expectations to "at least 2,500 to 5,000".

Pazderski said many still feared being "stigmatised" for showing their AfD colours, even after the party took nearly 13 percent of the vote and won its first seats in the national parliament in last year's elections.&nbsp;

Bass away the AfD

If confirmed, the AfD turnout could be dwarfed by a slate of counter-demos.

The most eye-catching promises to be a huge dance party by over 100 clubs from Berlin's legendary techno scene, who want to use boats on the river Spree and a convoy of trucks to "bass away" the AfD.

"The Berlin club culture is everything that Nazis are not," they said in a statement.

"We are progressive, queer, feminist, anti-racist, inclusive, colourful and we have unicorns."

More than 9,000 dance fans have said they will attend, according to the event's Facebook page.&nbsp;

Thousands of others have vowed to join a mass anti-AfD protest organised by a collection of groups including political parties, unions, student bodies, migrant advocates and civil society organisations.

"We won't leave the streets to the AfD," said Nora Berneis of the "Stop the hatred, stop the AfD" alliance.

Although the vast majority of counter-demonstrators are expected to be peaceful, members of the far-left extremist Antifa movement have on their website called for "chaos", urging sympathisers "to sabotage the AfD rally using all necessary means".

Berlin police said they plan to deploy 2,000 officers, drafted in from across Germany, to prevent clashes and any attempts "to block the right to free speech".

Rape threats

Founded in 2013 as an anti-euro party, the AfD rose to prominence by capitalising on widespread anger over the arrival of over a million asylum seekers in Germany since 2015.

It now holds more than 90 seats in the Bundestag where its presence has changed the tone of debate.

Just this month, AfD co-leader Alice Weidel earned herself a formal rebuke from the parliamentary speaker for describing immigrants as "headscarf girls, welfare-claiming, knife-wielding men and other good-for-nothings".

Merkel's left-right coalition government has responded to the AfD's rise by tightening asylum policies, but the party continues to climb in opinion polls -- exposing the divisions in German society.

In a sign of the simmering tensions, lawmaker Renate Kuenast of the opposition Greens party was deluged with thousands of hateful comments after posting a video online urging people to join Sunday's anti-AfD demos.

The posts included rape threats and calls for her to kill herself.&nbsp;

Kuenast responded with a second Facebook video in which she vowed to file complaints against the worst messages, and said nothing would deter her from marching.

"I am now more than ever calling for people to join us in demonstrating on Sunday," she said.

Thousands of anti-racism campaigners, left-wingers and techno lovers are expected to pack the streets of Berlin on Sunday to protest a rally called by the far-right AfD party, with police deploying in force to keep the peace

Thousands of anti-racism campaigners, left-wingers and techno lovers are expected to pack the streets of Berlin on Sunday to protest a rally called by the far-right AfD party, with police deploying in force to keep the peace. Uniting under the banner "Stop the hatred", counter-demonstrators say they want to drown out the march by the anti-immigration, anti-Islam Alternative for Germany (AfD). But AfD members have accused some opponents of threatening to use violence. The party's "Future of Germany" march, slated to start outside Berlin's main train station at midday (1000 GMT) and end at the iconic Brandenburg Gate, marks the first public show of strength by the nationalist outfit since it became the largest opposition party. Scheduled to address the crowd are top AfD'ers Joerg Meuthen and Alexander Gauland, who regularly rail against Chancellor Angela Merkel's decision to allow in large numbers of mostly Muslim refugees at the height of Europe's migrant crisis. "We want to show everyone that along with millions of Germans across the country we are worried about Germany's future," Berlin AfD chief Georg Pazderski told a pre-march press conference. After predicting 10,000 AfD supporters would show up, organisers later scaled back expectations to "at least 2,500 to 5,000". Pazderski said many still feared being "stigmatised" for showing their AfD colours, even after the party took nearly 13 percent of the vote and won its first seats in the national parliament in last year's elections. Bass away the AfD If confirmed, the AfD turnout could be dwarfed by a slate of counter-demos. The most eye-catching promises to be a huge dance party by over 100 clubs from Berlin's legendary techno scene, who want to use boats on the river Spree and a convoy of trucks to "bass away" the AfD. "The Berlin club culture is everything that Nazis are not," they said in a statement. "We are progressive, queer, feminist, anti-racist, inclusive, colourful and we have unicorns." More than 9,000 dance fans have said they will attend, according to the event's Facebook page. Thousands of others have vowed to join a mass anti-AfD protest organised by a collection of groups including political parties, unions, student bodies, migrant advocates and civil society organisations. "We won't leave the streets to the AfD," said Nora Berneis of the "Stop the hatred, stop the AfD" alliance. Although the vast majority of counter-demonstrators are expected to be peaceful, members of the far-left extremist Antifa movement have on their website called for "chaos", urging sympathisers "to sabotage the AfD rally using all necessary means". Berlin police said they plan to deploy 2,000 officers, drafted in from across Germany, to prevent clashes and any attempts "to block the right to free speech". Rape threats Founded in 2013 as an anti-euro party, the AfD rose to prominence by capitalising on widespread anger over the arrival of over a million asylum seekers in Germany since 2015. It now holds more than 90 seats in the Bundestag where its presence has changed the tone of debate. Just this month, AfD co-leader Alice Weidel earned herself a formal rebuke from the parliamentary speaker for describing immigrants as "headscarf girls, welfare-claiming, knife-wielding men and other good-for-nothings". Merkel's left-right coalition government has responded to the AfD's rise by tightening asylum policies, but the party continues to climb in opinion polls -- exposing the divisions in German society. In a sign of the simmering tensions, lawmaker Renate Kuenast of the opposition Greens party was deluged with thousands of hateful comments after posting a video online urging people to join Sunday's anti-AfD demos. The posts included rape threats and calls for her to kill herself. Kuenast responded with a second Facebook video in which she vowed to file complaints against the worst messages, and said nothing would deter her from marching. "I am now more than ever calling for people to join us in demonstrating on Sunday," she said.

Berlin: Far-right takes to streets to stage anti-government protest

<div>Islamophobia has risen markedly in Germany, a study published today showed, underscoring the tensions simmering in German society after more than one million migrants, mostly Muslims, arrived last year. 
 
Every second respondent in the study of 2,420 people said they sometimes felt like a foreigner in their own country due to the many Muslims here, the number of which has gone&nbsp;up to&nbsp;43 per cent in 2014 from&nbsp;30.2 per cent in 2009. 
 
The number of people who believe Muslims should be forbidden from coming to Germany has also risen, the study showed, and now stands at just above 40 per cent, up from about a fifth in 2009. 
 
The study was conducted by researchers at the University of Leipzig in co-operation with the Heinrich Boell Foundation, the Rosa-Luxemburg Foundation and the Otto-Brenner foundation. 
 
The influx of migrants has fuelled support for the anti-immigrant Alternative for Germany (AfD) party that wants to ban minarets and the burqa and has described Islam as incompatible with the German constitution. 
 
The number of attacks on refugee shelters has also risen.&nbsp; 
 
Supporters of the AfD were most likely to favour stopping Muslims from coming to Germany while Green voters were most likely to disagree with the statement that Muslims made them feel like foreigners, the survey found. 
 
On Monday German President Joachim Gauck warned against demonising Muslims and against polarisation along religious and ethnic lines in German society when he joined a Ramadan dinner in Berlin.&nbsp; 
 
Germany is home to nearly four million Muslims, about five per cent of the total population. Many of the longer established Muslim community in Germany came from Turkey to find work, but those who have arrived over the past year have mostly been fleeing conflicts in Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan. 
 
The study also examined extreme right-wing views towards other groups in Germany. 
&quot;While general prejudice against migrants fell slightly, the focus of resentment towards asylums seekers, Muslims as well as Sinti and Roma, increased,&quot; the study&#39;s authors said. 
 
The number of those surveyed that believed Sinti and Roma peoples tended towards criminality rose to nearly 60 per cent, while slightly more than 80 per cent of respondents wanted the state not to be too generous when examining asylum applications. 
 
Almost 40 per cent of those surveyed in east Germany agreed with the statement that foreigners only came to Germany to take advantage of its social welfare benefits, compared to about 30 per cent of those in the west of the country.</div>

Over a million Muslim migrants arrived in Germany in 2015, making Germans feel like foreigners in their own land

Islamophobia has risen markedly in Germany, a study published today showed, underscoring the tensions simmering in German society after more than one million migrants, mostly Muslims, arrived last year. Every second respondent in the study of 2,420 people said they sometimes felt like a foreigner in their own country due to the many Muslims here, the number of which has gone up to 43 per cent in 2014 from 30.2 per cent in 2009. The number of people who believe Muslims should be forbidden from coming to Germany has also risen, the study showed, and now stands at just above 40 per cent, up from about a fifth in 2009. The study was conducted by researchers at the University of Leipzig in co-operation with the Heinrich Boell Foundation, the Rosa-Luxemburg Foundation and the Otto-Brenner foundation. The influx of migrants has fuelled support for the anti-immigrant Alternative for Germany (AfD) party that wants to ban minarets and the burqa and has described Islam as incompatible with the German constitution. The number of attacks on refugee shelters has also risen. Supporters of the AfD were most likely to favour stopping Muslims from coming to Germany while Green voters were most likely to disagree with the statement that Muslims made them feel like foreigners, the survey found. On Monday German President Joachim Gauck warned against demonising Muslims and against polarisation along religious and ethnic lines in German society when he joined a Ramadan dinner in Berlin. Germany is home to nearly four million Muslims, about five per cent of the total population. Many of the longer established Muslim community in Germany came from Turkey to find work, but those who have arrived over the past year have mostly been fleeing conflicts in Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan. The study also examined extreme right-wing views towards other groups in Germany. "While general prejudice against migrants fell slightly, the focus of resentment towards asylums seekers, Muslims as well as Sinti and Roma, increased," the study's authors said. The number of those surveyed that believed Sinti and Roma peoples tended towards criminality rose to nearly 60 per cent, while slightly more than 80 per cent of respondents wanted the state not to be too generous when examining asylum applications. Almost 40 per cent of those surveyed in east Germany agreed with the statement that foreigners only came to Germany to take advantage of its social welfare benefits, compared to about 30 per cent of those in the west of the country.

Islamophobia on rise in Germany: Study