13 March 2016: Anti-refugee party surges in German regional elections
On Sunday, three German states held regional elections that will allow their incumbent premiers to stay in office. The breakthrough of the Alternative for Germany (AfD) – a party that did not exist a little more than three years ago and last year was on the verge of collapse – was arguably most striking. In Saxony-Anhalt in the former East Germany, the party with links to the far-right Pegida movement had gained 24.4%, according to initial exit polls, thus becoming the second-biggest party behind the CDU. In both Rhineland-Palatinate and Baden-Württemberg, it appeared to have gained 12% and 15%.
Nevertheless, In Baden-Württemberg, Winfried Kretschmann, the governing premier of the Green party, had won a little over 30% of the vote, the first time ever the party came in first overall in the state. Since Mr Kretschmann backs Mrs Merkel’s refugee policy, this also suggests that the chancellor's "welcome culture" has widespread support.
In the neighbouring state of Rhineland-Palatinate, the Social-Democratic incumbent, Malu Dreyer, had also won decisively, with 36.2%. Like Mr Kretschmann, she stood by Mrs Merkel over the refugee crisis.
