AfD and East Festival: Where Disappointment Awaits and Where There Is Hope

The article, published in the German newspaper der Freitag, examines the emotional undercurrents of the recent election results in eastern Germany, where the far-right AfD made significant gains. It discusses how feelings of disappointment with the established, West German-dominated party system, including the Left party, drove many voters to support the AfD, even if it means self-harm. The piece also highlights the upcoming 'Endlich Freitag!' festival, which aims to transform these negative emotions into something more cheerful. The author reflects on the post-election atmosphere of shock, silence, and analysis, noting that many of these developments were predictable. The article is part of the 'Endlich Freitag!' newsletter and references the current issue of der Freitag for further reading.