Alternative für Deutschland—the German fascist party—received the most votes in today's election in Saxony-Anhalt, though not enough to form a government alone.

To form a government in Saxony-Anhalt, the AFD would have to work with the centrist conservatives or with the BSW Party, a red-brown alliance of pro-Russia tankies with anti-immigrant policies. Despite only taking 5% of the vote, the BSW could be in a position to play kingmaker.

Whatever party works with AfD will experience tremendous external and internal pressure, probably leading to additional political ruptures. But if the conservative, center, and left parties combine to form a government without AfD, that coalition will also be extremely volatile.

As long as AfD is out of power, fascists can masquerade as "rebels" representing an improvement on the status quo. But once AfD comes to power, they will be able to use the full strength of the state to repress immigrants and others.

It will take a revolutionary movement to solve this double bind.