Potential Power Shift: AfD Poised for Historic Wins in Eastern German Elections

The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) could become the strongest party in two eastern German state elections for the first time. Germany's main opposition conservative party hopes to stop AfD's momentum, while the governing coalition struggles with unpopularity. A new leftist party also aims to change the political landscape.

The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) is on the cusp of potentially transforming the political landscape in eastern Germany, aiming to become the strongest party in two state elections on Sunday. The party seeks to leverage voter discontent with Chancellor Olaf Scholz's troubled governing coalition and an ailing economy.

Germany's main opposition party, the conservative Christian Democratic Union (CDU), hopes to hold AfD at bay in Saxony and Thuringia, covering a population of around 6.2 million. However, internal disputes within Scholz's coalition have tarnished their credibility, weakening their prospects in the election.

While a victory for AfD would signal its growing strength, forming a government may prove challenging due to the unlikelihood of finding coalition partners. The rise of a new leftist party, founded by Sahra Wagenknecht, also seeks to disrupt the existing political order.

(With inputs from agencies.)