Far-right AfD wins historic victory in German state election

The Alternative for Germany (AfD), a far-right political party in Germany, has achieved a historic win in the state elections of Saxony-Anhalt, exit polls indicate. This victory brings the far-right party within reach of state power for the first time since the aftermath of World War II. Although the AfD fell short of securing an overall majority, it garnered 44% of the popular vote, delivering a significant blow to Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s conservative party.

This result underscores the deep unpopularity of Germany’s ruling coalition within a rapidly fragmenting political landscape. The AfD is currently the most popular party in Germany at the national level and is actively pursuing a foothold to advance its policy agenda, which encompasses stringent immigration controls, revitalizing relations with Russia, reducing financial aid to Ukraine, and withdrawing from the euro.

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