Far-right AfD poised to lead first state government since Nazi era as Merz reels from Saxony-Anhalt landslide
Berlin: German Chancellor Friedrich Merz was facing pressure Monday after his party was crushed by the Alternative for Germany party in a regional election that could result in it leading the first far-right state government since the Nazi era. The AfD, classified by Germany’s domestic intelligence agency as an extremist group in some regions of the country, fell just short of a majority in…
In Germany's recent regional election, the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party secured a significant victory, potentially paving the way for the first far-right state government since World War II. The AfD's strong showing came at a time when Chancellor Friedrich Merz's Christian Democrats (CDU) party saw its popularity halved in the polls.
While the AfD fell short of an outright majority in Saxony-Anhalt, a state in eastern Germany, it more than doubled its vote share compared to the previous five years. The election results have raised concerns for Merz, who promised to weaken the AfD during his tenure as chancellor. The party's success has also generated international attention, with figures such as billionaire Elon Musk, U.S. President Donald Trump, and leaders of other right-wing populist parties congratulating the AfD on their electoral triumph.
However, not everyone endorsed the party's success, with Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk criticizing their victory. Forming a coalition government that excludes the AfD will be an arduous process, and the AfD candidate for governor is determined to become the first far-right leader of a German state in over seven decades.
Written by urgent.news from Gulf News's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
