September 11, 2026

Far-Right Political Party Win in Germany Raises Alarm in Europe

Germany's far-right AfD party scored a major election win in the eastern state of Saxony-Anhalt, deepening the country's political divide and unsettling much of Europe. Students explore why eastern Germany votes differently and what the result signals.

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PBS News Hour Classroom

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Germany’s far-right AfD party won a major parliamentary election victory in the eastern state of Saxony-Anhalt. The win marks a growing divide in German politics. The AfD (Alternative for Germany) party is anti-immigration and has been labelled as xenophobic and extremist by German intelligence. Liz Landers discussed the outcome with Liana Fix, author of “Germany Rearmed: The Return of War and the End of Illusions.”

View the transcript of the story.

NOTE: If you are short on time, watch the video and complete this See, Think, Wonder activity: What did you notice? What did the story make you think? What do you want to learn more about? You can also make a Google doc copy of these general discussion questions.

What Students Can Do

Who are the AfD(Alternative for Germany) party, and what political wing do they represent in Germany?
What are some of the core policy goals of the AfD?
Where is Saxony-Anhalt in Germany?
How does Germany's political system determine which parties control national or local governments?
When will we see changes in Germany?

Essential Questions

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez believes that the AfD’s win is due “in large part to the surrender of the traditional right.” What do you think he means by this and why does it matter?
The AfD seeks to grow closer ties with Russia and China. How do you think the U.S. government would react to such relationships?
Media literacy: Pretend you are a journalist working in Saxony-Anhalt, the state that just elected the AfD to a near majority. What questions would you ask of voters? How would you seek to better understand the election results?

What Students Can Do

This segment briefly describes some of the political differences, or even tensions, between east and west Germany. Why do so many political observers around the globe pay close attention to the difference in politics between East and West Germany?

Read through this article from the International Development and Research Network. After reading, discuss as a class:

What factors do you believe play a role in the divide between East and West Germany today?
Why do you think states in East Germany seem more likely to vote for far-right parties like the AfD?

Lesson Plans on Global Politics

Find more resources on global politics and how they relate to your students with our free collection of preK-12 lesson plans and teaching resources.

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Republished with permission from PBS News Hour Classroom.

Critical Thinking

PBS News Hour Classroom

PBS News Hour Classroom helps teachers and students identify the who, what, where and why-it-matters of the major national and international news stories. The site combines the best of News Hour's reliable, trustworthy news program with lesson plans developed specifically for... See More