The result of the state election in Brandenburg marks a drastic shift for democracy and instills fear in many people across the country. With 29.2 percent of the vote, the far-right AfD has become the second strongest political force in Brandenburg. In Saxony and Thuringia, the party achieved historic successes with 30.6 and 32.8 percent, respectively. This is also due to the downplaying of right-wing extremism and a racist, anti-immigrant election campaign, to which the democratic parties found no response.