Germany's far-right Alternative for Germany party surges to second place in elections

Germany's far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party has surged to second place in recent elections, gaining about 20.2% of the vote. This marks a significant increase from 2021, nearly doubling its support amid rising concerns over migration and economic issues. The AfD's rise has come at the expense of Chancellor Olaf Scholz's Social Democrats, which fell to 16.2%. Despite this growth, the AfD is unlikely to join the government, as other parties have ruled out coalition talks with them. AfD co-leader Alice Weidel expressed ambitions to become the largest party in future elections. The party has gained traction, especially in eastern Germany, despite being classified as extremist by security agencies due to its ethno-nationalist ideology.