section_path: Consequences/Political
section_name: Political
paragraph_text: Political
  
  In 2021, the Social Democratic Party (SPD) led by Scholz achieved unexpected success in the federal election, with particularly strong results in the eastern state of Brandenburg. This success was attributed in part to promises of economic reforms, such as raising the minimum wage.
  
  By 2024, the political landscape had shifted dramatically. The Alternative für Deutschland (AfD), a right-wing populist party, gained significant traction in eastern Germany. In the regional elections of Saxony, Thuringia, and Brandenburg, the AfD emerged as a leading contender, with polls indicating a possibility of winning state elections for the first time. Support for the ruling coalition was polled at only 34% in early 2024.
  
  Concurrently, a new political force emerged: the Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance (BSW), self-described as "left-conservative" party that campaigned on platforms that included abandoning climate goals, halting military aid for Ukraine, and reducing immigration levels. The BSW's rise coincided with a decline in support for the more traditional Left party.