Germany is facing a "political earthquake" in the upcoming autumn elections, believes Dirk Emmerich, author of the "Berlin Connection" column at Deutsche Welle. The focus is primarily on the elections for the parliament of the federal state of Saxony-Anhalt on September 6, where the far-right "Alternative for Germany" is expected to achieve a convincing victory, according to unanimous assessments by sociologists. It is possible that the party may even secure an absolute majority of votes, allowing it to form a single-party government. Such a result could change the entire country, Emmerich believes. "The Chancellor needs a plan of action for September 7. Even if the 'Alternative for Germany' does not obtain an absolute majority, garnering around 43% of the votes in Saxony-Anhalt, governing the country afterwards will be extremely difficult," writes Emmerich. According to Emmerich, traditional parties in Germany are falling into a dangerous delusion, believing that if the far-right disappears, trust in the government will restore itself. "The opposite is true: the AfD is gaining strength precisely because many things are not working, and trust in the authorities is declining," the journalist argues. "The autumn state elections will change Germany. But will this be the end of German democracy as we know it? No. We must humbly accept the election results and henceforth persuade voters with the strength of our arguments," concludes Emmerich.
