{
  "id": 6018176,
  "title": "Germany's far-right, pro-Israel AfD sweeps Saxony-Anhalt in historic electoral breakthrough",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/06/germanys-far-right-pro-israel-afd-sweeps-saxony-anhalt-in-historic",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-06T18:53:01.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Middle East Eye",
    "slug": "middle-east-eye",
    "url": "https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/germanys-far-right-pro-israel-afd-sweeps-saxony-anhalt-historic-electoral-breakthrough"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The far-right, pro-Israel Alternative for Germany (AfD) party has experienced a historic electoral breakthrough in Saxony-Anhalt, a German state, according to an exit poll from the recent state elections. The AfD secured 44.5 percent of the vote, more than doubling its 2021 share, while Chancellor Friedrich Merz's conservative Christian Democratic Union trailed significantly with 18.5 percent. Chancellor Merz's party has yet to secure enough seats or political support to form a state government following the AfD's victory. The result has raised alarm bells in France, with opposition politician Jean-Luc Melenchon warning that the far-right is making a comeback in the country. Despite the AfD's classification as a far-right party, Israel's government has considered it a potential political partner, praising the party for targeting groups that support Palestinian rights and proposing a ban on the antisemitic BDS movement. The AfD leadership has sought to position the party as a staunch supporter of Israel, despite antisemitic and Holocaust-revisionist statements made by some of its members. Co-leader Alice Weidel has described the AfD as \"the only protector of the Jewish people\" in Germany and has tied the party's support for Israel to its campaigns against Muslims and immigration.",
  "summary": "Germany's far-right, pro-Israel AfD sweeps Saxony-Anhalt in historic electoral breakthrough Submitted by MEE staff on Sun, 09/06/2026 - 19:40 The AfD's historic breakthrough in the Germany state cements a party that courts Israel while building its platform on anti-Muslim and anti-Palestine politics The co-leader of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party Alice Weidel gives an interview…",
  "key_points": [
    "AfD party wins 44.5% of vote in Saxony-Anhalt, doubling 2021 share",
    "Chancellor Merz's CDU trails at 18.5%, struggling to form government",
    "Israel considers AfD potential partner, praises stance against BDS movement"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 4,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "France 24",
        "title": "Germany: Why is the AfD so popular in Saxony-Anhalt?",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/06/germany-why-is-the-afd-so-popular-in-saxony-anhalt",
        "published": "2026-09-06T13:37:48.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "South China Morning Post",
        "title": "Germany’s far-right AfD is landslide winner in Saxony-Anhalt vote, exit polls indicate",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/06/germanys-far-right-afd-is-landslide-winner-in-saxony-anhalt-vote-exit",
        "published": "2026-09-06T16:36:27.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Times of Israel",
        "title": "Exit polls show big win for Germany’s far-right AfD in state election, but government elusive",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/06/exit-polls-show-big-win-for-germanys-far-right-afd-in-state-election",
        "published": "2026-09-06T17:59:00.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}