AfD Surges as Centrist CDU Displaced in German Political Realignment

The article argues that rising unemployment and political polarization in Germany have fueled the rise of the AfD, which has displaced the centrist CDU as the vanguard of an illiberal populist movement. This marks a significant shift in Germany's political landscape, with implications for European stability and policy direction. The claim is based on analysis rather than specific electoral data, so the exact extent of the shift remains uncertain.