Elections in the East German states of Saxony-Anhalt and Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania gave the far-right Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) two striking victories, marking the German far right’s first landslide since the Third Reich’s fall in 1945. The elections also increased the party’s vote share in Berlin. Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s Christian Democrats suffered a historic defeat in all three elections.

From failing to enter the Bundestag in 2013, the nativist, anti-immigrant AfD rose to second place in the 2025 federal elections, becoming Germany’s largest opposition party. It has exploited grievances over economic stagnation, pairing broader discontent with demands for severe restrictions on immigration. This has profound consequences for Germany, the EU, and India.

In 2022, India and Germany signed a Migration and Mobility Partnership Agreement (MMPA) to facilitate easier two-way mobility for students and professionals. As Germany grapples with........

© Indian Express