Earlier this month, Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) became the first far-right political party since the Nazi era to win a state election in Germany.
Although the result wasn’t exactly a surprise – polls had predicted AfD gains in Thuringia and Saxony well in advance – there is understandable nervousness that a far-right party could once again form a German government.
If federal elections were held now, polls suggest the AfD could become the second-strongest group in the Bundestag. But is the threat being overstated? The AfD’s support is concentrated in the country’s east – and, as the historian and novelist James Hawes argues in this week’s big story, the historical, cultural and political divisions between that side of Germany and its western states run deep, all of which could serve as a natural block against the spread of populism.
Even so, it’s undoubtedly a huge moment in German politics. A federal election is due next year and it looks likely that the CDU leader Friedrich Merz will become Germany’s next chancellor. Berlin correspondent Deborah Cole considers what Merz can do before then to halt the march of far-right voters.
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Five essential reads in this week’s edition
1
Spotlight | After the Grenfell Tower inquiry
Seven years after 72 people died in a tower block fire in west London, Robert Booth and Emine Sinmaz report on the damning public investigation into a wholly preventable tragedy.
2
Environment | The deep secrets of a Greenland glacier
Damian Carrington reports from Kangerlussuup glacier, where scientists are discovering new things about sediment banks that could slow the rate of rising seas.
3
Feature | The big click-off: how to win at Fantasy Premier League
With 10 million players, the virtual football game has become a global phenomenon. Tom Lamont gets the lowdown from the world’s best armchair managers.
4
Opinion | Why I’d pay to see Ticketmaster getting rinsed
After the Oasis ticket debacle, this much is clear, writes Marina Hyde: the “fan experience” is an excuse to be exploited while having to look grateful.
5
Culture | James McAvoy on class, comfort and carnage
The Scottish actor talks to Zoe Williams about marriage, therapy – and why Ken Loach would never cast him.
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What else we’ve been reading
An occasional frustration of editing the Weekly is that we only have room for three of the many excellent Guardian and Observer opinion pieces each week. Some of the best are not about politics or news, but life – as is this touching piece by Amelia Gentleman about how she learned to support a friend who nearly died in a car accident 20 years ago. Graham Snowdon, editor
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Other highlights from the Guardian website
• Audio | The race to understand mpox – Science Weekly
• Gallery | Strange reflections: how the streets bring us together – in pictures
• Interactive | 2024 US presidential polls tracker – latest
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