BERLIN: Some German lawmakers and anti-Kremlin activists suspect Russia of inflaming sensitive regional divisions, smearing mainstream political parties and spreading disinformation to help the far right ahead of hotly contested regional elections in Germany.
In the former communist eastern states of Saxony-Anhalt and Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, the Alternative for Germany (AfD) is topping the polls ahead of votes scheduled for September 6 and 20.
The anti-immigrant, pro-Russian party is aiming to take control of a regional government — which would be a first in Germany for the far right since 1945 — and deal a blow to Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s unpopular ruling coalition.
In recent months, posts spreading misinformation have been appearing in ever greater numbers across X, TikTok and Bluesky.
For lawmakers focused on security issues, the prime suspect is Moscow, which — in its efforts to destabilize Germany — is accused of relying on the AfD. The party denies this, claiming instead that it is the victim of “political” manipulation.
