The Alternative for Germany (AfD) party achieved a historic victory in the latest elections, completely sweeping the eastern regions of Germany. In all five eastern federal states (Brandenburg, Thuringia, Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, and Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania), AfD won more than 30% of the votes, making it the dominant political force in that part of the country.
What explains this phenomenon?
1. Historical and Economic Divide Between East and West
Eastern Germany (former GDR) has historically been poorer and less developed than the western part. The 1990 reunification brought massive economic changes, but it did not fully resolve the social and economic disparities.
🔹 Economic frustration: Many East Germans still feel like second-class citizens compared to West Germans. Despite billions of euros in federal subsidies, the region has never fully caught up economically.
🔹 Demographic shifts: Younger and more educated people leave for the West, while those who remain tend to be older and more nationalistic.
🔹 AfD has capitalized on this sense of marginalization and used it effectively in their campaign.
2. Anti-Establishment Sentiment
Eastern Germans are more likely to vote against the traditional political parties (CDU, SPD, Greens) because they see them as responsible for economic struggles and social injustice.
🔹 Distrust in mainstream media and political elites from Berlin.
🔹 AfD offers an alternative, aggressively criticizing the government, the EU, and NATO.
🔹 Many voters feel betrayed by CDU, SPD, and the Greens and demand a stronger nationalist policy.
AfD has positioned itself as the protest party, appealing to voters who feel abandoned by the traditional establishment.
3. AfD’s Relationship With Russia and Putin – Why Aren’t They Anti-Russian?
One might expect AfD voters to be anti-Russian, given the Cold War history of East Germany. However, the reality is more complex.
🔹 East Germans have a different historical relationship with Russia – during the GDR era, the Soviet Union was the dominant power, but many still feel nostalgic for the stability of that time.
🔹 AfD is not ideologically pro-Russian, but it supports pragmatic relations with Moscow and opposes sanctions against Russia.
🔹 AfD sees the U.S. and the EU as a bigger problem than Russia.
🔹 Putin is perceived as a leader who defends national interests, something that AfD voters wish for Germany.
Thus, AfD is not openly pro-Russian, but it opposes Germany’s policy towards Ukraine and believes Germany should maintain diplomatic and economic ties with Moscow.
4. Immigration Policy – The Key Factor in AfD’s Rise
One of the biggest reasons for AfD’s success in the East is its opposition to Germany’s immigration policy.
🔹 Eastern Germany has fewer migrants than the West, but the fear of mass migration is a strong political weapon.
🔹 AfD emphasizes national security and strongly opposes the liberal immigration policies of SPD and the Greens.
🔹 AfD argues that Germany should close its borders and deport illegal migrants, a stance that appeals to disillusioned voters, especially in the East.
Conclusion – AfD Thrives on Popular Discontent
AfD has successfully leveraged economic frustration, anti-establishment sentiment, and migration fears to secure dominance in eastern Germany.
👉 Their voters distrust Berlin and Brussels.
👉 They want closed borders and an end to economic policies that, in their view, harm ordinary Germans.
👉 They do not see Putin as an enemy but as a nationalist leader defending his country – something they want for Germany as well.
AfD is not simply a far-right party – it has adapted to modern political trends and become the voice of Germans who want change.
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