The Alternative for Germany party (AfD) achieved an overwhelming victory on Sunday in a small eastern German state. The repercussions of this regional election were felt in European capitals such as London and Paris, with many viewing the result as decisive for the fate of democracy on the continent.
The case is significant precisely because it involves Germany, a country that has historically isolated far-right parties since the calamity of Nazism. The AfD's victory marks the continuation of a trend that has already lasted a decade, bringing the far right ever closer to the center of power in Europe.
The result represents not an isolated anomaly, but the latest step in a constant march of the radical right. With elections scheduled throughout Europe for next year, the AfD's impressive success serves as a political signal to the other capitals of the continent.
