Germany’s Merz Shocked by Far-Right AfD Victory in Saxony-Anhalt State Election

Far-Right Electoral Triumph in Saxony-Anhalt

The Alternative for Germany achieved its best-ever showing in a German state election during Sunday’s vote in Saxony-Anhalt. Although the party fell short of an absolute majority in the state parliament located in Magdeburg, it immediately claimed a mandate to govern the region. Ulrich Siegmund, the 35-year-old lead candidate for the Alternative for Germany in the state, thanked Chancellor Merz on Monday, mockingly calling him a very good campaigner for their cause. The Alternative for Germany party has previously vowed to launch what it terms a remigration and deportation offensive targeting irregular migrants, alongside proposals for separate schools for refugees and mass deportations, according to CNN reporting on the party’s platform. Germany’s domestic intelligence agency classifies the Alternative for Germany branch in Saxony-Anhalt as a right-wing extremist group, and reports indicate some of Siegmund’s staff are former members of a since-banned neo-Nazi organization.

Chancellor Merz Responds to Major Upheaval

Speaking on Monday, Chancellor Merz admitted that his own low poll ratings contributed to the conservative defeat, noting that he was a constant topic throughout the election campaign. Despite the severe setback, Merz vowed to stay the course with tough reforms, stating that his determination to continue on the path of reform remains unbroken for the sake of future generations. He also insisted that Germany will not budge a single millimetre from its fundamental conviction to defend freedom against Russia and maintain support for Ukraine. Merz sought to reassure international partners and domestic citizens that Germany’s institutions remain resilient and stable, emphasizing that his government will ensure the constitution is upheld. Meanwhile, Alternative for Germany national co-leader Alice Weidel launched a blistering attack on Monday, asserting that no chancellor before has been as unpopular as Friedrich Merz and labeling him a major burden for the country’s development.

Political Fallout and Coalition Uncertainty

Sven Schulze, the defeated Christian Democratic Union state premier who continues as caretaker leader for now, acknowledged the shift in power by stating that his party is now the opposition and that the mandate to govern lies with the Alternative for Germany. With the far-right party missing an absolute majority, Siegmund announced that the party is reaching out to other political groups and individual lawmakers to build a stable ruling coalition, potentially via a minority government. The outcome has sent shockwaves through Germany’s political establishment, testing the nation’s traditional firewall against far-right participation in government, as highlighted by AP News. While supporters of the Alternative for Germany celebrated the result both domestically and internationally—including U.S. tech entrepreneur Elon Musk, who posted a congratulatory message on X—migrant and minority communities expressed deep anxiety over the prospect of the first far-right state government since World War II, according to France 24.