Pressure Systems edition
German Far-Right Surges as Russian Strikes Test European Borders
September 15, 2026
What this edition shows
The Alternative for Germany secures a landmark regional election victory in Saxony-Anhalt, triggering mass protests across Berlin, Munich, and Cologne while exposing deep vulnerabilities in postwar political structures. Simultaneously, Russian border strikes near Poland and cross-border hybrid campaigns intersect with far-right mobilization in Sweden and the UK, compounding European anxieties over security and institutional continuity.
Reporting and analysis behind this edition 14 sources
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German Democracy, as We Knew It, Is Over
A far-right state election victory is ushering in the end of the country’s postwar political system.
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How Germany’s far-right AfD is courting the voters it promises to deport
On September 6, the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) took 43.8% of the vote in Saxony-Anhalt, more than double the Christian Democratic Union of Germany (CDU)‘s 17.2%. Turnout was 77.8%, the highest in the state’s history of free elections. The party campaigned on a platform that included a d…
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Why AfD Appeals to So Many Germans
The far-right party surges in a regional election.
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Tens of thousands march across Germany to protest far-right party AfD
Protesters in about 20 cities, including Berlin, Hamburg and Munich, demand the banning of the Alternative for Germany.
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Germany’s far-right surge is not just about the East
The AfD’s victory in Saxony-Anhalt has roots specific to eastern Germany. But the economic insecurity behind its rise is increasingly visible across the country.
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Anti-AfD protesters rally in Cologne after far-right election win
Thousands of protesters rallied in Cologne against the AfD after the far-right group's election victory.
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What are the implications of AfD’s electoral rise for Germany and Europe?
The far-right Alternative for Germany is just short of a majority in a regional election.
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‘Not welcome’: How Sweden’s far right took over Stockholm Central Station
The Sweden Democrats also posted advertisements on buses suggesting Swedes with Somali heritage apply for repatriation.
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What Patriot Platform tells us about how the far right in the UK is changing its tactics
Anti-migrant protests in Dover and Portsmouth may look like another manifestation of a familiar phenomenon. In recent years, the UK has seen repeated demonstrations and rioting over asylum hotels, small-boat crossings and immigration. This time though, the gatherings consisted of black-clad men in b…
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Europe’s far right: Putin’s best friend?
Its gains threaten to deepen Europe’s divisions over Ukraine and Russia.
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Poland, Ukraine accuse Russia of ‘escalation’ after strikes near border
Western officials including ex-UK PM Boris Johnson were nearby when Russia hit a train at the Poland-Ukraine border.
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Why Germany Isn’t Punishing Russia Harder
Domestic politics constrains Berlin’s ability to respond to an attempted drone attack.
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What Russia Is Really Up To in Europe
On Russian state television, the Kremlin’s propagandists have for years threatened to bomb European capitals, even while the country’s diplomats insist that no such war is imminent. Lately, the denials have gotten hard to sustain, as European intelligence agencies have ascribed hundreds of clandesti…
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Amnesty accuses Russia of trafficking foreigners to fight in Ukraine
Report reveals foreign nationals were misled with job offers, then forced into Russia's army upon arrival.