The far-right, Islamophobic Alternative for Germany (AfD) party has performed strongly in the German elections, securing approximately 20.4% to 20.8% of the vote, making it the second-strongest party in parliament.
This result represents a significant increase from its 10.3% share in the 2021 federal election, effectively doubling its support.
The AfD’s success was particularly notable in eastern Germany, where it achieved even higher vote shares, though specific regional breakdowns are still being finalised.
The party finished behind the centre-right Christian Democratic Union/Christian Social Union (CDU/CSU) bloc, led by Friedrich Merz, which won around 28.5% to 29% of the vote.
In contrast, the Social Democratic Party (S.P.D.) fell to 16.3%, marking its worst performance since 1949.
The CDU/CSU won 208 seats in the Bundestag, while the AfD. secured 152 seats and the SPD managed only 120. The Greens earned 85 seats and the Left Party 62, further fragmenting the parliament and leaving no single party with an outright majority.
With a parliamentary majority requiring at least 316 seats, the situation forces parties into challenging coalition negotiations. A potential coalition between the C.D.U./C.S.U. and the SPD would yield 328 seats, while an alliance incorporating the Greens could boost the total to 413 seats, thereby reshaping the balance of power significantly.
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But despite its strong gains, the AfD remains excluded from coalition considerations, as mainstream parties, including the CDU/CSU, have consistently ruled out cooperation with it due to its far-right positions.
Islamophobia
The AfD has been widely accused of Islamophobia due to its rhetoric, policies, and actions, though the party itself rejects this label.
The AfD has consistently campaigned on an anti-immigration platform, often focusing on Muslim immigrants in particular. Its 2025 election manifesto included calls to ban “Islamic symbols” like minarets and the call to prayer in public spaces, arguing they represent a “claim to power” incompatible with German values.
Party leaders, such as Björn Höcke and Alexander Gauland, have made statements portraying Islam as a threat to German culture, with Höcke once calling Islam a “conquering ideology” and Gauland suggesting it undermines the country’s Christian identity.
The party’s rhetoric often frames Muslims as a monolithic group that fails to integrate, with some members linking Islam to terrorism or social instability. For instance, during the 2025 campaign, AfD posters in several states featured slogans like “Islam doesn’t belong to Germany,” echoing a 2018 statement by then-interior minister Horst Seehofer but taking it further into exclusionary territory.
Critics, including political opponents and organisations like the Central Council of Muslims in Germany, argue this rhetoric dehumanizes Muslims and fosters a climate of fear and division, pointing to a 2021 study by the University of Leipzig that found AfD voters were significantly more likely to hold negative views of Muslims compared to supporters of other parties.
On the other hand, the AfD insists it’s not against Muslims as individuals but opposes what it calls “Islamization” and the influence of political Islam. The party highlights its defence of secularism and women’s rights, claiming that Islamic practices like headscarves or Sharia law conflict with German constitutional principles. Supporters argue this stance reflects legitimate cultural concerns rather than blanket prejudice, and they note the party has occasionally fielded Muslim candidates to counter the Islamophobia narrative.
Chancellor‐designate Friedrich Merz
Meanwhile, Chancellor‐designate Friedrich Merz announced plans to invite Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for an official visit to Germany. He emphasised that the invitation would proceed despite mounting international controversy and legal challenges.
Netanyahu’s office confirmed the invitation, describing it as “overt defiance” of the International Criminal Court (I.C.C.) decision. The I.C.C. issued an arrest warrant against Netanyahu and former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant last November, accusing them of war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.
These allegations stem from a conflict that has claimed over 48,300 lives since October 2023, further complicating the international debate. Despite the warrant, Netanyahu congratulated Merz on his electoral victory and maintained that the visit would not be impeded by the ongoing legal proceedings.
