Germany’s Christian Democrats struggle against populists in the east

THE SMALLCDUADADAD east German state of Saxony-Anhalt is run by a so-called “Kenya” coalition, comprising three parties whose colours match that country’s flag: the conservative Christian Democrats (), the Social Democrats and the Greens. But so bad is the infighting it should be named after the similar hues of Afghanistan’s flag, chuckles Oliver Kirchner, local head of the hard-right Alternative for Germany (f).He should know. Five years ago the f—an extremist outfit shunned by all other parties—won a quarter of the vote, forcing the Kenya trio into their ill-matched arrangement. The f’s enduring support could oblige them to keep it going after Saxony-Anhalt’s election on June 6th.