Germany's far-right AfD expected to win crucial eastern state vote

The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party is expected to win a crucial election in the eastern German state of Saxony-Anhalt. According to recent surveys, the AfD is polling at just over 40 per cent, significantly ahead of the Christian Democrats (CDU) at 23 per cent, as reported by the New Straits Times. The AfD's Saxony-Anhalt branch has been categorized as "right-wing extremist" by Germany's domestic intelligence agency, as noted by Le Monde English.

The election is being closely watched as a barometer for the government of Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who has attempted to take a tougher line on migration and security in an effort to reduce the AfD's popularity. If the AfD achieves an absolute majority, it would allow the party to bypass mainstream parties' efforts to keep it out of power. The AfD is led by 35-year-old Ulrich Siegmund in Saxony-Anhalt.

The election in Saxony-Anhalt highlights lasting east-west divisions in Germany, over three decades after reunification. The region has become a stronghold for the AfD, with many eastern Germans experiencing significant economic and social challenges since the fall of the Berlin Wall, including large-scale unemployment and population flight, as described by the government's commissioner for eastern Germany, Elisabeth Kaiser, and reported by the Malay Mail.

Brief written by urgent.news from Le Monde English, New Straits Times, Malay Mail — 3 reports on this story. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.