Germany is embarking on(开始，着手) a crucial election period this month, with three key state polls that could markedly(显著地，明显地) change the political terrain(地形，领域，形势) and make life decidedly harder(使生活明显更加艰难) for the federal government under the chancellor, Friedrich Merz.
德国本月将进入一个关键的选举期，三场重要的州选举可能显著改变政治版图，并让总理弗里德里希·默茨领导下的联邦政府的日子更加难过。
All eyes are on(所有目光都聚焦于) Saxony-Anhalt on Sunday, where about 1.7 million people are eligible(有资格的，符合条件的) to vote, followed by Mecklenburg-Vorpommern and Berlin on 20 September. In all three contests(竞赛，角逐，选举), the far-right, anti-immigrant Alternative für Deutschland (AfD)(德国选择党，极右翼政党) is expected to make strong gains(取得重大进展，大幅增长).
周日，所有人的目光都集中在萨克森-安哈尔特州，那里约有170万人有资格投票，随后是9月20日的梅克伦堡-前波莫瑞州和柏林。在这三场角逐中，极右翼、反移民的德国选择党（AfD）预计都将取得重大进展。
What is the AfD and why is the Saxony-Anhalt vote so significant?
什么是德国选择党？为何萨克森-安哈尔特州选举如此重要？
Founded in 2013 as an anti-euro force but later morphing(演变，变形) into an anti-immigrant party, the AfD has harnessed(利用，驾驭) and amplified(放大，增强) the frustrations of voters aggrieved(感到委屈的，愤愤不平的) and vexed(烦恼的，恼怒的) by economic stagnation(停滞，不景气), rising immigration and cultural shifts.
德国选择党成立于2013年，最初是一股反欧元的力量，后来演变为反移民政党。它利用并放大了选民因经济停滞、移民增加和文化变迁而感到的不满与愤怒。
What has the party said it plans to do if it gets into power in Saxony-Anhalt?
该党表示，如果它在萨克森-安哈尔特州掌权，计划做什么？
Who is the face of the party in Saxony-Anhalt?
谁是该党在萨克森-安哈尔特州的代言人？
What stands between the AfD and an absolute majority?
是什么阻碍了德国选择党获得绝对多数？