In the quaint town of Arnis, known as the smallest in Germany, only one of the 228 eligible voters chose the Alternative for Germany (AfD) in the latest national elections. The far-right party, renowned for its anti-immigrant stance, showed marked progress nationwide, becoming Germany’s second-most influential political entity. However, its influence does not spread uniformly across the country.
Arnis is nestled in the northernmost region of Schleswig-Holstein. Out of the 154 citizens who participated in the voting process, nearly 42% opted for the Greens based on the official election figures. This town is not only the smallest in Germany in terms of population but also by geographical size, covering just 0.45 square kilometers (0.17 square miles). Known for its scenic views along the Baltic Sea, it thrives as a tourist destination with industries like fishing, marinas, and shipbuilding.
Mayor Jens Matthiesen expressed surprise over the lone vote received by AfD. He remarked to the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, “We are quite happy that only one person voted for this party. We can live with that.” The AfD’s rising popularity is attributed to a backlash against the influx of migrants and refugees in Germany over the last decade, coupled with grievances towards Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s administration, known for its internal conflicts and struggling economy.
The party has made substantial headway, particularly in the eastern part of Germany, a region historically aligned with the AfD due to its communist past and economic challenges. This area recognized AfD as the leading political force and hosted its first state election victory the previous year. Despite having a foothold in many regions, Schleswig-Holstein remains a challenging territory, where AfD captured only 16.3% of the vote, trailing behind the national average of 20.8%.
Schleswig-Holstein, which has experienced both center-right and center-left leaderships, is now one of the mere two states in Germany without any AfD representatives in its regional parliament following a setback in the 2022 local elections. The town of Arnis, established in 1667, saw its residents originally forming a community to evade allegiance to a local noble. According to Mayor Matthiesen, pinning down the identity of the sole AfD supporter in such a tightly-knit community might be elusive. He added humorously, “You can’t find out. The one AfD voter won’t come out either.”
