Germany’s ruling parties lost big when the states of Bavaria and Hesse went to the polls on Sunday.
The far-right AFD, on the other hand, advanced strongly and seems to be making its best choice ever in western Germany.
Jona Källgren writes in his analysis that it is another win for pro-Russian forces in Europe.
Today’s election in the German states of Bavaria and Hesse has been called the “little Bundestag election.” They are located in the former West Germany, together have almost 20 million inhabitants and are considered to be good temperature gauges for what people think and think in the country.
The results will continue to come in during the night, but one thing is certain – the far-right Alternative für Deutschland (AFD) appears to be making big gains and could become the second largest party in both states.
This is despite the fact that AFD is the most pro-Russian party in Germany.
Visit to Moscow, suspected spies and slogans against Ukraine
Since Russia started its large-scale attack on Ukraine, AFD has gone from keeping quiet on the subject to demanding that Ukraine negotiate and that Germany lift sanctions against Russia.
Delegations with members from AFD have visited Moscow and in the Bundestag, a person who has been singled out as a possible Russian spy has been given a job in one of AFD’s offices. Party leader Tino Chrupalla has been photographed at an event in the Russian embassy in Berlin and one of AFD’s members of the Bundestag has appeared on Russian propaganda TV.
But the AFD still makes its best choice in western Germany ever.
After today’s election, it is no longer possible to point to the former East German states and their history with Russian influence to explain how the AFD can be so strong – even in the prosperous and rich West, a considerable part of the population now votes for the AFD.
Winning on the refugee policy
One reason is that some voters are simply tired of the war and the problems it has caused: inflation, a million Ukrainian refugees and an energy crisis. Another reason could be that some voters can simply live with a little anti-Ukrainian rhetoric because they think that other issues that AFD pursues are so important – for many, above all, refugee policy.
Then there is also a part of the population that simply likes Russia. At demonstrations around Germany, the AFD flag is often flown next to the Russian flag.
Growing Pro-Russian groups across Europe
Unlike the election in Slovakia – which seems to lead to a pro-Russian government – the AFD will not be able to gain any influence in Germany. But the election shows a trend that must be worrying for Ukraine: in country after country, it is precisely the pro-Russian parties that are advancing.
On Sunday, there are elections in Poland, and there the anti-Ukrainian Konfederacija may become so large that it may take a place in the next government. And next year there are elections to the European Parliament.
Who knows how strong the pro-Russian voices have grown until then.