Rise of the AfD: The all-or-nothing party

With just under 44% of the vote, the far-right populist Alternative for Germany (AfD) emerged as by far the strongest party in the eastern state of Saxony-Anhalt on September 6. It fell only narrowly short of an absolute majority in the newly elected state parliament, and with it the opportunity to govern on its own. From the outset, the AfD made clear that governing alone was its preferred outcome. Only by avoiding having to compromise with coalition partners, the party argued, could it fully implement its agenda , which included compulsory work schemes for asylum-seekers, citizen patrols monitoring migration-related issues, and the abolition of all public funding for democracy and civic engagement programs .