Whatever the root cause for the AfD success, it was surely enabled by Germany's Mixed Member Proportional (MMP) voting system. As was the continuing party fragmentation in Germany and other European countries. Supporters of an electoral shift to MMP here in Canada used to say that whatever the problems of PR voting in other countries (extended government formation, rise of radical fringe parties, etc.)  we should look to Germany as a successful example. Not so true any more.

New Zealand's MMP election this week produced similar problems with the far right fringe party now holding the balance of power there.