🖋Katya Adler Editor, Europe

“Political earthquake,” “a social and political tremor,” and “a turning point for Germany.”

Political analysts and many media outlets described the striking victory of the anti-immigration party Alternative for Germany in Sunday’s local elections in Germany using such phrases. But are these descriptions exaggerated?

Saxony-Anhalt is one of Germany’s smallest of the 16 states. Out of 59 million people eligible to vote nationwide, only about 1.7 million live in this state. Given this, how much can the political leanings of the region matter—especially in a situation where the Alternative for Germany party missed an outright majority by only a narrow margin?

The answer is: very much.

First and foremost, in Germany itself.

📸AFP via Getty Images