Germany: AfD marks success in state election

"We are the winners of the evening," said Tino Chrupalla, co-chairman of the far-right populist Alternative for Germany (AfD) in virtually every interview he gave on election night. Markus Frohnmaier, the AfD's top candidate in Baden-Württemberg, struck the same note: "I am very, very satisfied!"

With 18.8% of the vote, the AfD achieved its best election result to date in a western German state. That success is remarkable, even though the party often gains almost twice that vote share in eastern Germany. Unlike the east, Baden-Württemberg is an extremely economically strong region with many high-paying jobs.