Far-right AfD party won big in Saxony-Anhalt. Will it affect Germany’s approach to China?
With its sweeping victory in a key state election, the far-right Alternative for Germany is putting pressure on the ruling federal coalition and could nudge Berlin towards a more pragmatic approach to China, analysts said. By securing 43.8 per cent of the vote in the September 6 election in Saxony-Anhalt – more than double its 2021 result – the AfD sent shock waves and piled further pressure on…
The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party secured a significant victory in Saxony-Anhalt's state election, winning 43.8% of the vote, more than double its 2021 result, and causing shockwaves in Germany's political landscape. This surge in support could influence Germany's approach to China, as analysts suggest the party's leader, Alice Weidel, aims to secure 40% in the 2029 general election.
The AfD's rise may make Chancellor Friedrich Merz more cautious about China, while still favoring gradual measures to reduce German economic dependence on Beijing. China's senior fellow Ding Yifan cautioned that the party's economic message might be gaining ground among industrial voters, but its overall impact would likely be indirect, shaping public debate and rhetoric.
Written by urgent.news from Reuters Business via SCMP's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
This story
This is one outlet's version. Read the fullest account.
