Germany’s far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party is soaring in popularity in the eastern state of Saxony-Anhalt. It could form government in an upcoming regional election and become the first far-right party to hold state power in the country since the Second World War.

RAGUHN-JESSNITZ, Germany — The first brick to fall in Germany’s so-called firewall against the far right was this town of some 9,000 people in the small eastern German state of Saxony-Anhalt.

The Alternative for Germany party has tried to soften its hard-line image but is still privately working with extremists. It could win a state election on Sunday.

Far-right party on course to win state elections for first time, with plan to implement radical policy platform focused on immigration and family

German far-right AfD politicians like to ride vintage Simson scooters that are icons of the former communist East Germany -- much to the dismay of the Jewish family whose name adorns the machines.

If the AfD wins key regional elections on Sunday and becomes the first far-right party in post-war Germany to form a state government, experts fear far-reaching consequences for security and defence.

AfD gains in state elections would add to internal pressures on the government as it faces a growing external threat from Russia, writes CFR’s.

Axel Springer chief executive Mathias Döpfner, whose media empire includes US-based Politico and Germany's mass-circulation Bild, has criticized the infamous "firewall" preventing mainstream parties