Germany: AfD achieves landslide victory in Saxony-Anhalt, Merz says he is 'shocked'
The far-right party secured nearly 44% of the vote in this state, far ahead of Chancellor Friedrich Merz's CDU, according to information reported by France 24.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said he was "deeply shocked" following a regional election in Saxony-Anhalt marked by a sweeping victory for the Alternative for Germany (AfD), France 24 reports.
According to results cited by the news outlet, the far-right party won nearly 44% of the vote, while the CDU, the chancellor's party, secured only 17% of votes in this state.
France 24 notes that the AfD was founded in 2013 during the eurozone debt crisis, initially on a euroskeptic platform. The party has since shifted toward more radical positions, presenting itself today as anti-immigration and favorable to rapprochement with Russia, according to the same source.
This election result illustrates, according to the media, the steady advancement of the AfD across several German states, particularly in the eastern part of the country, where the party has achieved strong results in previous regional elections.
German authorities and traditional parties, including the CDU, have expressed concern about this electoral surge, though specific measures have not been detailed in the available information at this stage.
Sources
- Allemagne : l'AfD, de l'euroscepticisme à l'extrémisme — France 24 — Français
EGazette summarizes reporting from multiple sources; follow the links for the originals.
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