German Chancellor Faces Crisis as Far-Right Party Triumphs in Saxony-Anhalt
POLICY WIRE — Berlin, Germany — German Chancellor Friedrich Merz is grappling with a severe political crisis following the resounding success of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) in the...
POLICY WIRE — Berlin, Germany — German Chancellor Friedrich Merz is grappling with a severe political crisis following the resounding success of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) in the Saxony-Anhalt regional election.
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The AfD, which has been labeled an extremist group by the domestic intelligence agency, secured a substantial victory in the eastern state on Sunday, though it narrowly missed achieving a majority. This outcome could lead to the formation of the first far-right state government in Germany since World War II.
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Ulrich Siegmund, the top candidate for the AfD, expressed his determination to implement the change that over 44% of voters supported. ‘We want to ensure that the voters get what they voted for,’ he stated to public broadcaster ZDF late Sunday. The AfD’s victory significantly weakens the chancellor, who will likelyably face criticism for his party’s historic loss after leading the state for 24 years.
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The Christian Democrats (CDU), led by Merz, saw their share of the vote cut in half, while the AfD more than doubled its support. This result could energize the far-right party in upcoming state elections and further challenge the national government’s credibility.
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Merz is set to address the election results later on Monday after consultations with his party and government leaders. The AfD, known for its pro-Russian stance and radical anti-immigration policies, is the largest opposition party in the national parliament and enjoys strong support in the less prosperous eastern regions, including Saxony-Anhalt.
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Forming a state government will be a complex task, with coalition talks expected to take weeks. Siegmund has ruled out a minority government, but the AfD could potentially govern with the hard-left BSW party, which shares similar views on Russia and immigration but differs on other issues.
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Alternatively, a five-party coalition excluding the AfD would be highly unusual and difficult to manage. The possibility of defections from other parties to the AfD adds another layer of complexity, as the far-right party would need just three additional seats to secure a majority.
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Despite being one of Germany’s smaller states, with a population of only 2.1 million, the election in Saxony-Anhalt garnered significant attention both domestically and internationally. Modern Germany has not seen a far-right or right-wing populist party lead a national, state, or major-city government, and such movements have always faced intense scrutiny due to the country’s Nazi past.
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Reactions to the AfD’s victory were mixed. Billionaire Elon Musk congratulated the party on X, and Siegmund responded positively, welcoming the opportunity for cooperation. U.S. President Donald Trump shared a screenshot of the election projection without comment, while Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk criticized the triumph, stating that only ‘idiots or traitors’ would celebrate it.
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The AfD won 43.8% of the vote, more than double its previous showing. The CDU, meanwhile, polled 17.2%, losing about half of its support and securing 15 seats. The Social Democrats, Greens, and Left Party each won around 9% of the vote and eight seats apiece. The BSW party, which opposes the ‘firewall’ against the AfD, took 5.3% and five seats.
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Voter turnout was exceptionally high at 77.8%, indicating that the AfD may have mobilized many who previously abstained from voting.
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Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)