The nationalist Alternative for Germany (AfD) party's 43.8% share of the vote in the state election in Saxony-Anhalt has prompted nationwide alarm. People of Turkish origin are especially worried.
Gökay Sofuoglu, the co-chair of the Turkish Community in Germany (TGD), told DW that business owners he has spoken with in Saxony-Anhalt have been especially alarmed. "After the AfD's success, some were thinking of shutting up shop and leaving, first Saxony-Anhalt, then Germany," Sofuoglu said.
He said that initial response was emotional. "We've had a chance to speak to some of them again since," Sofuoglu said. "They're going to wait and see: They're waiting for the formation of a government."
'Problem for Germany'
Sofuoglu said people of Turkish descent in Saxony-Anhalt regard the rise of the AfD "as a problem for Germany as a whole." He said the party's election win was a threat to the stability of democracy in Germany.Anti-AfD protests were held across Germany after Sunday's electionImage: Fabian Sommer/dpa/picture alliance
