The nationalist Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) is poised to challenge for a second regional election victory in Germany as voters head to the polls in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern on Sunday. Recent surveys place the AfD in a close race with the centre-left Social Democrats (SPD) in this rural northeastern state, part of the former East Germany.

The AfD, which secured control of Saxony-Anhalt earlier this month, stands to become the first far-right party to govern a German state since World War II. The party’s platform centers on restrictive immigration policies, tough law-and-order measures, and opposition to what it describes as unchecked illegal migration within Europe. AfD candidates have drawn parallels between their positions and the political shifts seen in Britain’s Brexit referendum and the rise of nationalist movements abroad.

At a large campaign rally in Schwerin, the state capital, candidate Leif-Erik Holm defended the party’s stance on migration, characterizing the AfD as “normal civic conservatives” rather than extremists. Holm cited public concerns about immigration and the need for stricter controls as key drivers behind the party’s appeal. AfD spokeswoman Petra Federau also emphasized the party’s opposition to cultural influences they portray as threatening, including bans on “children in burkhas” and preventing “transvestites” from reading to children in schools.

Supporters at the rally described frustrations with rising costs of living, immigration, and perceived political manipulation by traditional parties. Among them was Reivo, a voter with tattooed Viking-style imagery, who expressed discontent over the war in Ukraine and economic issues. Others cited concerns over asylum centers and crime rates as motivating their support for the AfD.

However, the party’s surge has sparked alarm among Jewish groups and civil society advocates. Holocaust survivor Charlotte Knoblauch, a former vice-president of the World Jewish Congress, warned that the AfD’s growing influence threatens Germany’s democratic center and evokes troubling historical parallels. She highlighted the party’s recent advocacy for increased military spending for “remigration” purposes, which critics say could target German citizens based on ancestry.

Stefan Kollasch, head of the Regional Centre for Democratic Culture West Mecklenburg, echoed concerns about social cohesion, warning that the AfD’s rhetoric undermines the dignity of certain groups and poses tangible risks to public safety.

In Berlin, where elections are also taking place, the AfD is not expected to make significant gains given the city’s traditional left-leaning electorate. Meanwhile, Chancellor Friedrich Merz and his Christian Democratic Union (CDU) face mounting pressure amid declining popularity and sluggish economic growth, as the party looks set to underperform in both Mecklenburg-Vorpommern and Berlin contests.

The outcome of Sunday’s election will be closely watched as an indicator of Germany’s political direction amid ongoing debates over immigration, national identity, and economic challenges.