The far-right party Alternative for Germany (AfD) could, for the first time, govern a German federal state, a scenario that, although unlikely, has become possible. Political scientists warn that this possibility, even if remote, represents a significant shift in the German political landscape.
Political scientist Nicolas Spohn warned, in an interview to PÚBLICO, against overestimating the political consequences of an AfD-led government. According to Spohn, although the immediate practical implications may be limited, the symbolic weight of such a scenario would be enormous for Germany.
The possibility of governing a federal state would mark a turning point in German political history, given the country's history with extremist regimes in the 20th century. However, Spohn cautioned that the real impact of an AfD government would depend on various contextual and institutional factors.
