Far-right win leaves Germany’s Merz shaken as AfD plots path to power
Summary
Germany’s far-right AfD has won nearly 44 percent of the vote in Saxony-Anhalt, shaking Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s coalition and raising fears it could help form power at state level. Merz ruled out cooperation, while the result drew alarm in France, Poland and other European capitals.
Key Points
- The Alternative for Germany (AfD) surged into first place in Saxony-Anhalt with nearly 44 percent of the vote but fell short of an absolute majority.
- Chancellor Friedrich Merz rejected any cooperation with the far-right party, though he said the result shook his party to its foundations.
- The AfD is trying to win support from conservative lawmakers, while the only party signaling readiness to work with it is the populist left-wing BSW.
- The result alarmed Germany’s neighbors and intensified debate over immigration, Ukraine policy, Russia ties and the mainstream parties’ “firewall” against the AfD.
