NewzThe anti-migration and Russia-friendly Alternative for Germany, or AfD, fell just short of a majority in Sunday’s vote in Saxony-Anhalt. BERLIN (AP) — German Chancellor Friedrich Merz doubled down Monday on pushing through unpopular reforms to Europe’s largest economy after a far-right party surged to a landslide victory in a regional election, with a very good chance of forming the first far-right state government since the Nazi era.Merz said his center-right Christian Democratic Union was “deeply shocked” by what he called “the most serious election defeat that the CDU has had for years, for decades.” But he indicated that he's determined to stay at the helm and said that “giving up is not an option for me.”The anti-migration and Russia-friendly Alternative for Germany, or AfD, fell just short of a majority in Sunday’s vote in Saxony-Anhalt, a small eastern state that gained outsized prominence as AfD eyed power there. Its regional branch is one of several considered a proven right-wing extremist group by Germany's domestic intelligence agency.Merz says Germany will stick to its values and Russia stanceAfD's victory is a major distraction for Germany and Merz at a time when Europe faces several challenges, including Russia’s continued aggression against Ukraine, a suspected sabotage campaign targeting NATO countries, and difficult dealings with U.S.
President Donald Trump.Merz said he wanted to assure Germany’s allies that “our institutions are resilient and stable” and the country will stick to its values and constitution after the AfD win. “We know that Germany carries special responsibility because of its history,” he said.He vowed that he won't “budge one millimeter from my fundamental conviction that we must defend our freedom against Russia now.” Germany is one of Ukraine's biggest supporters in its war against Russia.Because of Germany’s Nazi past, far-right movements have always come under strong scrutiny. Other major parties have refused to cooperate with AfD in a so-called “firewall.” Unlike many countries in Europe, modern Germany hasn’t yet had a far-right or right-wing populist party leading a national, state or major-city government.Determination to continue reforms ‘unbroken’Merz vowed to weaken AfD before he came to power last year, but instead has seen the party's support increase.The governing coalition of his Union bloc and the center-left Social Democrats has developed a reputation for squabbling and become deeply unpopular, as has Merz himself.
Germany’s Alternative for Germany (AfD) came out well ahead in Sunday’s regional elections in the state of Saxony-Anhalt, becoming the first far-right party to come close to gaining power at the regional level since World War II. The lead candidate of the party in the state, Ulrich Siegmund, said Monday that his party had already initiated talks towards building a governing majority. The Alternative for Germany (AfD) party secured a commanding victory in the eastern region of Saxony-Anhalt, marking the closest a far-right movement has come to holding state-level power since the Second World War.
The party captured forty-four per cent of the vote according to preliminary projections. This outcome translates to thirty-nine seats in the eighty-three-seat state parliament. An absolute majority requires forty-two seats, leaving the party just short of ruling alone.
Political Reactions and International Fallout Party leaders celebrated the outcome as a watershed moment for the region. Lead candidate Ulrich Siegmund noted. “This is a historic moment for our beautiful region.
The people have shown very clearly that they finally want political change. And above all, they’ve shown that they want it with us.” Co-leader Alice Weidel added that Germans are exhausted by policies running counter to national interests. International figures weighed in swiftly.
Summary from source