Right-Wing Nationalism: What France Can Teach Germany About the AfD

Germany’s surprise at the AfD’s rise looks puzzling from France, where Marine Le Pen’s National Rally has been growing for years without entering government. The parallel offers a warning, but not a fixed political outcome.

The AfD has become the strongest force in German opinion polls and may soon govern in Saxony-Anhalt. For many people in Germany, that ascent still appears startling. But from across the border, the development looks less unexpected.

The comparison with France is central to the column’s argument. Le Pen and the National Rally are now stronger than ever, yet they have not managed to take power. The party’s strength shows how difficult it can be to contain right-wing nationalism, while its failure to govern shows that electoral momentum alone does not make power inevitable.

The writer questions whether Germany believed it was protected from the forces driving populism, nationalism and extremism. Looking at developments in neighboring countries, the column suggests that those forces did not bypass Germany. Still, France’s experience indicates that a powerful right-wing movement can remain outside government.