Germany’s Merz under pressure from far-right election triumph

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz is set to meet with CDU leaders to address the party's decisive loss to the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) in the Saxony-Anhalt state election. The anti-immigration AfD claimed 44% of the vote in Saxony-Anhalt, compared to the CDU's 18%, according to early projections. This marks the AfD's biggest electoral triumph yet, positioning them within reach of forming the first-ever state government.

CDU state premier Sven Schulze acknowledged the campaign faced challenges due to national government policies, stating, "We often faced headwinds, and that wasn't always easy." The AfD, officially classified as right-wing extremist by Germany's domestic intelligence agency, is now close to securing an absolute majority in the state assembly, a first in post-war German history.

CDU premier Daniel Guenther expressed shock at the outcome, labeling it a watershed moment for the country. For Merz, the loss comes at a time when his approval ratings have plummeted. AfD state lead candidate Ulrich Siegmund mocked Merz, claiming the party had made history and sent a message to Berlin. The AfD's national co-leaders called for the state branch to pursue an absolute majority, viewing the result as a blueprint for national elections in 2029.

The CDU, currently in coalition with the centre-left SPD, faces a potential power shift, with the AfD and other anti-AfD parties considering various strategies to form a new government. Political scientist Oliver Lembcke predicts this is more than a mere electoral defeat for the CDU, marking a tectonic shift in Germany's party system and the rise of the AfD as a party with a realistic chance of holding power.