{
  "id": 8356770,
  "title": "How Germany’s far right learned to put on a smile to win elections",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/19/how-germanys-far-right-learned-to-put-on-a-smile-to-win-elections",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-19T02:00:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Politico EU",
    "slug": "politico-eu",
    "url": "https://www.politico.eu/article/afd-far-right-populism-germany-campaign-strategy/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "In recent elections, the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party in Germany has made a surprising shift in their electoral strategy. Instead of relying solely on negative rhetoric and fear-mongering, they have adopted an upbeat and optimistic tone, hoping to win over voters. This approach is being dubbed \"feel-good populism\" by political experts.\n\nThe AfD's campaign posters in Saxony-Anhalt, for instance, have moved from a single word \"Enough\" to \"Everything is Possible.\" This transformation is part of a broader strategy to combine hope with fear, presenting a positive perspective to mobilize voters. The party's lead candidate in Saxony-Anhalt, Ulrich Siegmund, exemplifies this new approach. Despite being labeled \"Germany's most dangerous man\" by a magazine, Siegmund maintains a permanent smile and a friendly demeanor during campaign stops and television appearances.\n\nThis change in strategy has paid off, as the AfD has surged in the polls, gaining enough support to put its first state government within reach in Saxony-Anhalt. The party is also set to perform well in upcoming elections in Berlin and Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. Political consultants, such as Johannes Hillje, attribute the AfD's success to their ability to present a \"feel-good\" image that offers a positive future amidst the party's dark vision of decline due to migration and deindustrialization.\n\nThis newfound optimism is not limited to Saxony-Anhalt. Historian Katja Hoyer believes the AfD's appeal transcends borders, and other far-right populists across Europe may adopt a similar strategy. The success of the AfD has also helped bridge the gender gap in voter support, as more men than women tend to vote for the party.\n\nWhile some political scientists, like Marco Tarchi, continue to warn about the potential rise of populism in Europe, the AfD's success suggests that there may still be hope for a different political narrative. Voters are increasingly looking to parties that offer clear visions and plans for the future, even if those plans may seem unrealistic at first glance. The AfD's optimistic approach may be a blueprint for other far-right parties seeking to win over disenchanted voters.",
  "summary": "The Alternative for Germany is wrapping its dark vision of national decline in a package of hope and optimism.",
  "key_points": [
    "AfD party in Germany adopts \"feel-good populism\" strategy",
    "Campaign posters shift from \"Enough\" to \"Everything is Possible\"",
    "Ulrich Siegmund, lead candidate, maintains friendly demeanor"
  ],
  "editors_take": "The far-right Alternative for Germany party's shift to an upbeat tone and \"feel-good populism\" electoral strategy suggests that a positive image can help win over voters even with a dark vision.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}