Germany’s prominent AfD party had gained big in 2017, prompting fears of a new far-right wave in Europe. Following the disappointing result
Germany’s far-right Eurosceptic AfD party made surprising gains in the 2017 elections, prompting fears of a new far-right wave in Europe. However, following their lacklustre result in September’s federal elections, the party has lost much of its splendour.
AfD, founded in 2013, won 12% of the vote at the 2017 elections, the best result of a German far-right party since the inception of the republic after World War Two. At the time, many feared a new wave of populism and right-wing extremism in Germany.
While these fears cannot be laid to rest, the AfD almost fell to a single digit of the shared vote in 2021, coming in at 10.3% and 83 seats in the German Bundestag, according to the results published by the federal returning officer.
“In all, this election result can not be called a success,” said party leader and EU parliament ID fraction chairman Jörg Meuthen.
He told a press conference on 27 September that calling for a German exit from the EU had cost the party voters. Asked whether he or others would step back, he said that any personnel changes following the election loss would start with lead candidates Alice Weidel and Tino Chrupalla.
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