The far-right party Alternative for Germany (AfD) secured 43.8 percent of the votes in the Saxony-Anhalt state elections on September 6, 2023, which is double the votes of the Christian Democratic Union of Germany (CDU). This remarkable victory was recorded with a participation rate of 77.8 percent, the highest in the history of free elections in this state. The AfD's election campaign focused on a program that included the expulsion and return of immigrants and seeking "all legal ways" to limit the expression of Islamic beliefs.
Electoral Differences in Berlin
Saxony-Anhalt, being a predominantly rural state with a very low immigrant population, does not provide a context for attracting immigrant votes. While the unprecedented results of the AfD in this state had little connection to immigrant voters, the situation in Berlin, which will go to the polls on September 20, will be completely different. A recent poll indicates that the AfD may garner 18 percent of the votes in the capital, which is double the 9.1 percent the party achieved in 2023.
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Vote Attraction Strategies and Challenges
Over the years, the AfD has sought to attract immigrant votes, particularly by using social media platforms like TikTok and Turkish language content, aiming to appeal to individuals with Russian and Turkish roots. These groups are primarily older immigrants, many of whom are German citizens with voting rights. The AfD's message to these voters is that you, established communities, are not the problem; rather, new immigrants are the issue.
However, the AfD's campaigns in Turkish have not been able to translate into votes. A report from the German Center for Integration and Migration Research (DeZIM) shows that the AfD received the least votes from voters with a migration background, indicating long-standing dissatisfaction with the political system.
While the AfD has managed to gain votes from some immigrant groups, such as Polish immigrants and returning Germans, the party has yet to achieve success among German Turks. Nevertheless, these voters feel a sense of dissatisfaction that the mainstream does not address.
Overall, new political dynamics are emerging based on the behavior and performance of citizens, and this change may impact the political future of the AfD and other right-wing parties in Europe.
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