An economist warns that those supporting the far-right AfD may face dire consequences.

Reint Gropp, an economist at the Halle Institute for Economic Research, cautions that voters backing populist parties like the Alternative for Germany (AfD) often end up suffering the most under their governance. With Saxony-Anhalt’s state elections approaching, the AfD could potentially govern a German federal state for the first time since World War II.

Gropp highlights the stagnating German economy, exacerbated by a lack of significant reforms over the past two decades. He points to Saxony-Anhalt’s unique challenges, including its reliance on a struggling chemical industry and a poor reputation for quality of life, which may influence voter sentiment.