BERLIN

The far-right AfD party won the most votes in five eastern German states in Sunday’s parliamentary elections, reflecting a growing polarization in the country.

The anti-immigrant party secured 20.8% nationwide, but its vote share in the five ex-communist federal states was significantly higher.

The party emerged as the dominant political force by scoring 38.6% in Thuringia, 37.3% in Saxony, 37.1% in Saxony-Anhalt, 35% in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, and 32.5% in Brandenburg. In contrast, the party averaged 18% in western German states.

Far-right candidates claimed victory in most constituencies across the eastern states, with few exceptions. The AfD achieved its strongest showing in the eastern town of Goerlitz with 46.7%, while its lowest support came from the western city of Cologne at 6.3%.

In Sunday's parliamentary elections, the anti-immigrant party doubled its vote share nationwide from 10.3% in 2021. Though now the second-largest group in parliament, the party remains isolated, with all other political parties refusing to form a coalition with them due to the party’s anti-democratic tendencies.

Election day polling by infratest dimap revealed that most AfD voters were primarily concerned about immigration and domestic security. Of those surveyed, 38% supported the AfD mainly for its anti-immigration stance, while 33% cited domestic security as their primary reason.

As many as 94% of AfD supporters agreed that “all migrants without legal status should be deported as quickly as possible.” Nearly all voters said the AfD was the only party that understood that many “people no longer feel secure.”

According to the representative poll, 54% of AfD voters said they believed in the party's policies, while 39% voted for the AfD to protest or express disappointment with other parties.