Far-right win in Saxony-Anhalt leaves Germany’s Merz shaken
However, the AfD fell short of an absolute majority in the state legislature, winning 39 of the 83 seats, and hopes to poach individual conservative lawmakers.
Germany's Chancellor Friedrich Merz has ruled out forming a coalition with the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) following their decisive victory in Saxony-Anhalt state elections. The AfD surged to first place, securing nearly 44% of the vote, while falling short of an absolute majority. The party advocates for anti-immigrant policies, opposition to Ukraine support, and restoration of ties with Russia.
Despite this, the AfD did not achieve a clear majority in the state legislature, winning 39 of the 83 seats. Merz acknowledged that his party's refusal to work with the AfD, known as the "firewall" policy, has been shaken to its foundations. The AfD now aims to form a coalition with individual conservative lawmakers, while Merz faces more state elections in the coming weeks and years.
The election results have alarmed Germany's neighbors, France and Poland, and have been criticized by international leaders as a worrying sign of a growing far-right threat in Europe.
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