Rise of far-right AfD in Germany | Explained - video Dailymotion

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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.

Rise of far-right AfD in Germany | Explained

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