Germany’s elections: more than a far-right story

Germany held three regional elections this month. Each result was different, but much media and political comment reduced them to one story: the chancellor is losing power to the far right. Since 2016, the year of Brexit and Trump, this has become the main narrative about Europe: mainstream parties under threat, the far right growing stronger. But this simple story oversimplifies European politics and feeds a defeatist "end of democracy" narrative. Saxony-Anhalt's election on 6 September became global news. Given Germany's history, economy and role in Europe, this was understandable. International media had speculated for months about an outright majority for the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD). The party came close, setting a record score of 43.8%. But it has so far failed to form a government, despite support from the "left-conservative" Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance. The full picture is more complex. Voter dissatisfaction is helping the left as well as the right.