German Chancellor Friedrich Merz faces pressure after his party's defeat by the far-right Alternative for Germany party, or AfD, in a regional election BERLIN -- German Chancellor Friedrich Merz was facing pressure Monday after his party was crushed by the Alternative for Germany party in a regional election that could result in it leading the first far-right state government since the Nazi era. The AfD, classified by Germany's domestic intelligence agency as an extremist group in some regions of the country, fell just short of a majority in Sunday's election in the eastern state of Saxony-Anhalt. Unlike other countries in Europe, modern Germany hasn’t yet had a far-right or right-wing populist party leading a national, state or major-city government — and due to the country’s Nazi past, far-right movements have always received strong scrutiny.
While Sunday's election was only regional, it has major national implications. Merz had vowed to weaken the AfD when he came to office, and the election result shows that he has been unable to deliver on that promise. AfD's strong victory is also a major distraction for Germany and Merz at a time when Europe faces several challenges, including Russia's continued aggression against Ukraine and a suspected sabotage campaign targeting NATO countries, and difficult dealings with U.S.
Tricky coalition talks lie ahead, and the AfD candidate for governor, Ulrich Siegmund, still aims to become the first head of government from the far-right party on the state level. "I am telling you today that we must reclaim our old, safe, beautiful Germany — we proved that yesterday, and therefore this is the path we will now take together," Siegmund told reporters in Berlin on Monday. The vote weakens the chancellor significantly and he will be partly held responsible for his party’s historic loss after it led the state for the past 24 years.
Merz’s center-right Christian Democrats party, or CDU, saw its election results cut in half, while AfD more than doubled its share of the vote. The result could also energize the AfD in other state elections later this month. Merz is expected to comment on the election result later Monday after meetings of his party and government leaders.
AfD, known for its pro-Russian and radical anti-immigration stance, is the biggest opposition party in Germany’s national parliament and is strongest in the formerly communist and less prosperous east, where Saxony-Anhalt is located. Tricky coalition talks in the state are expected in the days and possibly weeks ahead. Leading a state government would be the biggest prize for AfD in its 13-year history, coming at a time of widespread discontent with a national government that has yet to persuade voters that it can get the country’s sluggish economy moving.
While Siegmund has rejected an AfD minority government, his party could possibly govern with the hard-left BSW party. The two parties share a Russia-friendly course and oppose immigration but do not agree on some other subjects. On Monday, BSW's lead candidate in the election, Thomas Schulze, expressed his party's willingness again to help an AfD minister-president take office in the state parliament.
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