The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) won about one-third of the votes in the state elections in eastern Germany. This prompted parties across the political spectrum to rule out coalitions with the extremist group. Enforcing a domestic cordon sanitaire, however, could result in unlikely alliances and fuel discontent among voters.  

In this episode, host Giada Santana and Berlin-based reporter Nick Alipour examine eastern Germany’s history of far-right extremism, the country’s uncertain political landscape, and reactions from leaders across the European Union following Sunday’s vote.