The resurgence of the far-left Left Party, as well as a historic result for the far-right AfD, demonstrates growing support for the extremes as the outlook for Europe's largest economy darkens and the arrival of millions of migrants polarises society.

The Left (Die Linke) and the far-right AfD party scored big in Germany's federal election on Sunday. But their success has less to do with the fact that they offer more or less radical alternatives to other parties than in their style of political discourse — and more moderate parties would be wise to learn a thing or two from this.

The shooting star of the 2025 election was undoubtedly the Left Party. shouted Left Party co-leader Jan van Aken to the cheering crowd at the election party in Berlin as the projected election results rolled in.