Germany’s far right eyes election breakthrough as AfD surges in Saxony

Mario Jung does not fit the profile of a political hardliner. The 59-year-old banking clerk, who lives in Magdeburg in eastern Germany, has voted for the country’s conservative Christian Democratic Union (CDU) in the past.But he blames former Chancellor Angela Merkel for pushing the CDU to the left and on Sunday, in the state election in Saxony-Anhalt on Sunday, he will back the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party.Recommended Stories list of 4 itemslist 1 of 4Meloni sets a record, leading Italy’s longest-serving government since WWIIlist 2 of 4‘I’ll never be Swedish enough’: Far-right campaign upsets minority groupslist 3 of 4Germany says Russia preparing ‘hybrid’ attacks over Ukraine supportlist 4 of 4Russia to close Goethe-Institut centres as Germany tensions escalateend of list“I am a conservative, and the main reason for me to vote for the (far-right) AfD is the economy,” he told Al Jazeera.He also agrees with the AfD’s hardline immigration policy.“All illegal immigrants, those whose applications have been denied, and criminal immigrants as well – they have to be deported; there is no question about it,” he said.The regional elections pose a test for Germany’s politic...