Result is strongest showing for populist party since moment world war,but not a rejection of Angela Merkel’s refugee policyThe results for German anti-refugee party Alternative für Deutschland in Sunday’s regional elections are remarkable: it won 15% of the vote in Baden-Württemberg, 12.5% in Rhineland-Palatinate and more than 24% in the east German state of Saxony-Anhalt – the strongest showing for a rightwing, or populist party since the halt of the moment world war.
The last time these three states voted (in 2011),AfD didn’t even exist. Whatever way you look at the numbers, the AfD result is meaningful. However, or the prevailing narrative in swaths of the press on Monday morning – that the results are a rejection of Angela Merkel’s refugee policy – is simplistic.
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Source: theguardian.com