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Far-right AfD wins 43.8% in Saxony-Anhalt election, pressing CDU to break cooperation firewall

Far-right AfD wins 43.8% in Saxony-Anhalt election, pressing CDU to break cooperation firewall
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The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) secured a historic 43.8% of the vote in [Saxony-Anhalt’s](en.wikipedia.org) state election on Sunday, positioning it to potentially form the first far-right regional government in postwar Germany. The party won 39 of the 83 seats in the state legislature, falling short of an absolute majority but immediately pressing conservative lawmakers to break the longstanding “firewall” against cooperation with the AfD.

Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s center-right Christian Democratic Union (CDU) suffered its worst result in the state, plummeting to 17.2% and 15 seats, down from 37.1% in 2021. Merz called the outcome “seismic” and conceded it had shaken his party “to its very foundations,” though he ruled out resigning or collaborating with the AfD. “Giving up is not an option for me,” he told reporters, vowing to defend Western values and maintain support for Ukraine despite the AfD’s pro-Russia, anti-Ukraine platform .

AfD co-leader Tino Chrupalla urged CDU lawmakers to abandon the firewall, framing it as undemocratic and calling for a “center-right conservative majority” in Saxony-Anhalt. The party’s state leader, Ulrich Siegmund, declared the result “sensational” and moved to form a government, though the only potential partner, the populist BSW party, has so far remained noncommittal .

The election triggered protests across Germany, with thousands demonstrating in Berlin and other cities against the AfD’s rise. The party’s manifesto, which includes mass deportations and reduced emphasis on Nazi-era education, has drawn international concern, including from Poland and France . Merz, whose approval ratings have hit record lows, faces mounting pressure ahead of further state elections, though CDU sources reported no immediate internal challenge to his leadership .

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Articles

Thousands across Germany protest against AfD after election victory

Thousands across Germany protest against AfD after election victory

news.yahoo.com · 1 day ago

Live From Europe

Allemagne : lAfD décolle, Merz dégringole Après la large victoire de lextrême droite en Saxe-Anhalt dimanche, le chancelier conservateur a réagi mollement. Son parti, la CDU, risque le délitement, alors quUlrich Siegmund tend la main à la droite traditionnelle pour gagner la majorité absolue.

liberation · 1 day ago

Live From Europe

AfD surge in eastern Germany puts Central Europes mainstream parties on alert Election result in Saxony-Anhalt has triggered a strong response across Central Europe.

intellinews · 1 day ago

Live From Europe

Far-right win leaves Germanys Merz shaken as AfD plots path to power Chancellor Friedrich Merz ruled out working with the Alternative for Germany on Monday after the far-right party surged into first place in state elections in Saxony-Anhalt, but he…

japantoday · 1 day ago

Live From Europe

Udovič: CDU se je pomaknil proti sredini in pustil prazen prostor za AfD Politolog Boštjan Udovič kot razloga za vzpon stranke AfD v Nemčiji navaja dolgotrajno relativno zaostajanje te države in t. i. politiko dobrodošlice do prebežnikov, ki jo je zasnovala nekdanja kanclerka Angela Merkel.

rtv slovenia · 1 day ago

Live From Europe

Požární zeď kolem AfD praská, extremisté posouvají Německo doprava, popisuje novinář Lindner Volby v německé spolkové zemi Sasko-Anhaltsko drtivě vyhrála Alternativa pro Německo s bezmála 44 procenty hlasů, druhá CDU získala méně než polovinu. „Kancléř Friedrich Merz po svém nástupu do čela strany sliboval dostat AfD na polovinu, místo toho oslabil svou CDU. V Německu se znovu otevře debata o tom, jak AfD čelit, předpokládá v Interview Plus Tomáš Lindner, redaktor týdeníku Respekt.

irozhlas.cz · 1 day ago

Live From Europe

Only the beginning? German far-rights breakthrough shakes Europe to its core Not enough to win outright but enough to shake Germany and Europe to their core: the far-right Alterniv für Deutschland trouncing the ruling conservatives in the impoverished former East German region of Saxony-Anhalt. Well ask about the consequences of voting for an anti-immigrant, pro-Russian party that wants schools to teach less about the ills of Hitler and more the glory of Bismarck.

france24 · 1 day ago

Live From Europe

Winst AfD kan ook Nederlandse bedrijven raken: Onzekerheid niet goed voor economie De historische verkiezingsoverwinning van het radicaal-rechtse Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) in de deelstaat Saksen-Anhalt zorgt voor spanningen in de Duitse politiek. Daar kan ook de economie van Duitsland onder lijden, de belangrijkste handelspartner van Nederland.

rtl nieuws · 1 day ago

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said Monday he was "deeply shocked" by his partys state election defeat at the hands of the far-right AfD but vowed to stay the course with tough reforms while seeking to explain them better.  u.afp.com/SjUA

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said Monday he was "deeply shocked" by his partys state election defeat at the hands of the far-right AfD but vowed to stay the course with tough reforms while seeking to explain them better. u.afp.com/SjUA

bluesky_AFP English · 1 day ago

Sur la Russie, le RN est plus proche de lextrême droite allemande quil ne veut bien ladmettre La victoire dAlternative pour lAllemagne en Saxe-Anhalt, dimanche 6 septembre, marque le triomphe dune extrême droite aux liens assumés avec le Kremlin. En France, le RN tente de se défaire de son image de parti «pro-Poutine», mais conserve ses ambiguïtés.

Sur la Russie, le RN est plus proche de lextrême droite allemande quil ne veut bien ladmettre La victoire dAlternative pour lAllemagne en Saxe-Anhalt, dimanche 6 septembre, marque le triomphe dune extrême droite aux liens assumés avec le Kremlin. En France, le RN tente de se défaire de son image de parti «pro-Poutine», mais conserve ses ambiguïtés.

mediapart · 1 day ago

Shocked Merz warns far-right AfDs election win in Germany will have international impact AfD could become first far-right party to gain power at regional or parliament level in Germany since the Nazis

Shocked Merz warns far-right AfDs election win in Germany will have international impact AfD could become first far-right party to gain power at regional or parliament level in Germany since the Nazis

independent · 1 day ago

Live From Europe

Merz in shock as far-right AfD celebrates dream result Chancellor under severe pressure as Alternative for Germany party aims for 40 of vote in next federal polls

financial times · 1 day ago

Live From Europe

What are the implications of AfDs electoral rise for Germany and Europe? The far-right Alternative for Germany is just short of a majority in a regional election.

aljazeera · 1 day ago

The Day with Brent Goff : AfD State Election WinThe far-right Alternative for Germany won 43.8 of the vote in Saxony-Anhalt on Sunday, more than twice its support five years ago.  #News #NicoleFrölich #BrentGoff #Europe

The Day with Brent Goff : AfD State Election WinThe far-right Alternative for Germany won 43.8 of the vote in Saxony-Anhalt on Sunday, more than twice its support five years ago. #News #NicoleFrölich #BrentGoff #Europe

mastodon bot · 1 day ago

„AfD + BSW Demokratie adé – Tausende protestieren nach der Landtagswahl in Sachsen-Anhalt Der klare Wahlsieg der AfD in Sachsen-Anhalt löst bundesweit Proteste aus. In Berlin versammeln sich nach Polizeiangaben etwa 5000 Menschen.

„AfD + BSW Demokratie adé – Tausende protestieren nach der Landtagswahl in Sachsen-Anhalt Der klare Wahlsieg der AfD in Sachsen-Anhalt löst bundesweit Proteste aus. In Berlin versammeln sich nach Polizeiangaben etwa 5000 Menschen.

welt.de · 1 day ago

Live From Europe

Nach Wahl in Sachsen-Anhalt: Tausende protestieren gegen die AfD Der Wahlsieg der AfD beschäftigt nicht nur die Menschen in Sachsen-Anhalt. Vielerorts in Deutschland gehen die Menschen gegen die Partei auf die Straße, darunter Tausende in Berlin.

handelsblatt · 1 day ago

Live From Europe

Nach Wahl in Sachsen-Anhalt: Tausende protestieren gegen die AfD

die zeit · 1 day ago

AfD victory exposes divisions in Frances far-right as National Rally stays silent Frances far-right responded in markedly different ways to the AfDs sweeping victory in Germanys regional elections, with the National Rally (RN) maintaining a conspicuous silence on Monday while Éric Zemmours Reconquête openly celebrated the result.

AfD victory exposes divisions in Frances far-right as National Rally stays silent Frances far-right responded in markedly different ways to the AfDs sweeping victory in Germanys regional elections, with the National Rally (RN) maintaining a conspicuous silence on Monday while Éric Zemmours Reconquête openly celebrated the result.

euronews · 1 day ago

Udovič : CDU se je pomaknil proti sredini in pustil prazen prostor za AfD

Udovič : CDU se je pomaknil proti sredini in pustil prazen prostor za AfD

gdelt bot · 1 day ago

Live From Europe

„Wir sind fürs Hassen zu menschlich: Tausende protestieren in Berlin gegen AfD-Erfolg in Sachsen-Anhalt Nach dem deutlichen Wahlsieg der gesichert rechtsextremen AfD in Sachsen-Anhalt versammeln sich tausende Menschen vor dem Brandenburger Tor. Ihre Kritik gilt auch CDU und SPD.

tagesspiegel · 1 day ago

Live From Europe

Allemagne: après la victoire de lAfD en Saxe-Anhalt, Friedrich Merz vacille mais ne tombe pas LAllemagne est encore sous le choc après la victoire historique dimanche dans la région de Saxe-Anhalt de lextrême droite où lAfD a recueilli 44 des voix. Gagnants et perdants ont analysé les résultats du scrutin. Les chrétiens-démocrates du chancelier Merz, sonnés, cherchent à éviter un KO complet. LAfD est grisée par son succès, mais aura du mal à trouver une majorité stable pour gouverner la Saxe-Anhalt. De son côté, le chancelier fait face à limpopularité, mais il nest pas remis en cause au sein de son parti, la CDU.

rfi.fr · 1 day ago

Live From Europe

German Far Right Party AfD Wins Regional Election, Thanks Musk for Support

gdeltproject.org · 1 day ago

Live From Europe

Germanys Merz is running out of time Following the AfD surge in Saxony-Anhalt, the political centre must deliver, and fast

financial times · 1 day ago

En Allemagne, le pare-feu contre lextrême droite est-il bon à jeter aux flammes ? Le franc succès de lAlternative pour lAllemagne (AfD) dans le Land de Saxe-Anhalt, dans lest de la République fédérale, pousse les journaux doutre-Rhin à sinterroger : à lavenir, sera-t-il possible de gouverner sans sallier avec le parti dextrême droite ?

En Allemagne, le pare-feu contre lextrême droite est-il bon à jeter aux flammes ? Le franc succès de lAlternative pour lAllemagne (AfD) dans le Land de Saxe-Anhalt, dans lest de la République fédérale, pousse les journaux doutre-Rhin à sinterroger : à lavenir, sera-t-il possible de gouverner sans sallier avec le parti dextrême droite ?

courrier international · 1 day ago

After Victory in German State, Far Right Needs Help to Take Power The Alternative for Germany, or AfD, does not have a straightforward path to governing Saxony-Anhalt, but a small populist party could clear the way.

After Victory in German State, Far Right Needs Help to Take Power The Alternative for Germany, or AfD, does not have a straightforward path to governing Saxony-Anhalt, but a small populist party could clear the way.

new york times · 1 day ago

Germanys Firewall Against the Far Right Is Being Tested as Never Before A blowout win by the far-right Alternative for Germany party in a state election has revealed a split among voters about whether to uphold a decades-old strategy for sidelining extremists.

Germanys Firewall Against the Far Right Is Being Tested as Never Before A blowout win by the far-right Alternative for Germany party in a state election has revealed a split among voters about whether to uphold a decades-old strategy for sidelining extremists.

new york times · 1 day ago

Live From Europe

Orban welcomes AfD victory in Saxony, says its only the beginning Former Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban welcomed the victory of the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party in the elections in the eastern German state of Saxony-Anhalt, describing it as an important moment for Germany and Europe. A huge night for Germany and Europe!, Orban wrote on his social media accounts. Congratulations to Alice Weidel, Ulrich […] The post Orban welcomes AfD victory in Saxony, says its only the beginning appeared first on Republika English.

republika macedonia · 1 day ago

After Far-Right Triumph, Merz Faces Narrow Path to Save His Government The state election result could lead to a debate over the future of the firewall that has kept the Alternative for Germany out of power.

After Far-Right Triumph, Merz Faces Narrow Path to Save His Government The state election result could lead to a debate over the future of the firewall that has kept the Alternative for Germany out of power.

wsj · 1 day ago

AfD wins historic 43.8 in Saxony-Anhalt electionsThe rise of far-right politics in Germany following the AfDs historic victory in Saxony-Anhalt elections has reshaped the European political landscape, triggering diplomatic tensions with Russia as Moscow responds with…#PoliticalEconomy #Marxism #Geopolitics #OpenScience@economics @marxism

AfD wins historic 43.8 in Saxony-Anhalt electionsThe rise of far-right politics in Germany following the AfDs historic victory in Saxony-Anhalt elections has reshaped the European political landscape, triggering diplomatic tensions with Russia as Moscow responds with…#PoliticalEconomy #Marxism #Geopolitics #OpenScience@economics @marxism

mastodon bot · 1 day ago