The far-right is celebrating their win in the European Parliament elections against Scholz’s party.

With 16% of the vote, the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party in Germany has surpassed the center-left SPD led by Chancellor Olaf Scholz to take second place in the European Parliament elections.

Citing widespread discontent, AfD leader Alice Weidel has called for a vote of confidence and fresh elections. AfD succeeded in exceeding predictions in spite of a plethora of controversies during their campaign, including claims of money laundering and connections to foreign powers.

But the party has become isolated due to its harsh rhetoric and scandals; even Marine Le Pen has distanced herself from the AfD. Weidel wants to restore the party’s reputation by keeping out divisive personalities and brushing the controversies off as a publicity stunt.

Voters seem to have responded well to the AfD’s campaign, which centered on populist message and social media involvement, especially in eastern Germany and among younger groups. Because of this accomplishment, the governing coalition is in disarray, which has led to introspection within the SPD and strengthened the ambitions of conservative leader Friedrich Merz to become chancellor.

The far-right’s ascent presents difficulties for establishing stable coalitions, suggesting a shift in German politics towards a more conservative era even as the conservative party leads with 30% of the vote.