This German state could elect a far-right party, a 1st since the Nazis

Germany could soon have a far-right political party running one of its regional governments for the first time since the Nazi era. The AfD is poised to win an upcoming election in the eastern state of Saxony-Anhalt. The Alternative for Germany, or AfD, started in 2013 as a fringe party. But it's not anymore. It has been gaining popularity across Germany – especially in the east. Some polls have the AfD at more than 40 per cent support. Thousands of supporters show up at rallies throughout the state. Many line up to meet the local AfD leader Ulrich Siegmund, buy merch and get his autograph. I spoke to supporters at two of his events to find out why the AfD appeals to them. Arthur Aregner, AfD supporter: The leader: Ulrich Siegmund. He's a very good man. I can really connect to him because he's on many social media platforms where he posts very down-to-earth videos. So, what are the AfD's policies? The party has opposed same-sex marriage and wants to ban pride flags on public buildings. The AfD's platform is also pro-Russia and anti-abortion. It wants to massively ramp up deportations and severely restrict new immigration into Germany. And it promises citizens of "German origin" to have "healthy families" with as many children as possible. Hans-Thomas Tillschneider, AfD politician, member of Saxony-Anhalt state legislature: We've been making Germany great again. We will rebuild our wealth, our freedom, our liberty. Some of the AfD's party leaders have come under fire for using Nazi slogans in the past. Germany's domestic intelligence agency designated the AfD in this state as a far-right extremist group. But the party denies this label. It says it wants Germany to spend less time learning about its dark past. Gordon Köhler, AfD politician, member of Saxony-Anhalt state legislature: We don't want that time back. It's ridiculous. No, we just want a positive patriotism that you can be proud on your own. So why is the AfD getting so popular? Part of the reason is that the other mainstream parties have become so unpopular. And the AfD is capitalizing on the feelings of Germans in poor areas in the east who feel left behind by the west. The party also campaigns in smaller communities, places where the other politicians don't typically go. I think it's a lot of a feeling that the established parties, have left them kind of behind and don't represent them anymore and make politics for them. The AfD is giving easy solutions to complex problems in our political system and that is something that the other parties cannot give to the people because there are no easy solutions. There are people in the state pushing back. They don't agree with what the AfD is offering. And some say they might leave entirely if the AfD wins. I think about to run away. I think going to the west of Germany. Until now, the AfD's power in Germany has been limited by a policy called "the firewall." It's an agreement between all the other political parties not to work with extremists. Experts say Germany's constitution will likely prevent the AfD from bringing in some of the changes that they want. But they warn the AfD's surging support and potential win will help normalize this far-right party.