Europe wrestles with impact of historic regional gains for Germany’s AfD - BBC News
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How significant are AfD's historic gains for Germany and the rest of Europe?
Image source: Reuters
Image caption: AfD lead candidate Ulrich Siegmund says the party has won a clear mandate to govern.
By Katya Adler, Europe editor
Published 5 hours ago
"Seismic", "a socio-political earthquake", "a watershed moment for Germany". This was how political analysts and many media outlets described the stunning victory of the anti-immigration Alternative for Germany (AfD) party in local elections in Germany on Sunday. Is that an exaggeration?
Saxony-Anhalt is one of the smallest of massive Germany's 16 regions, with just 1.7m out of 59m eligible voters nationwide. Yet, its political sentiments hold significant weight...
First and foremost, at home in Germany:
The vote may have been regional but it impacts at national level. The AfD landslide piles pressure on the already struggling centrist coalition government in Berlin. It could spell the end for Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who promised to slash the AfD's popularity. These political woes will weaken Germany further, just as Europe faces crises with Russian aggression, US President Trump's tariffs, and economic threats from China.
The Saxony-Anhalt result also prompts soul-searching throughout Germany, where the Nazi past is still a sensitive topic. This marks the first outstanding electoral landslide for a hard-right nationalist party since 1945. The German authorities have labeled the AfD anti-democratic, and some regional factions as far-right extremist.
The AfD is particularly popular in eastern Germany but it's now polling as the biggest party nationwide. It seems Germany's political mainstream has failed its voters. So, what does Europe's biggest economy do now?
Trump interest in the AfD:
Tiny Saxony-Anhalt is making waves outside Germany too. US President Trump quickly shared the state's exit poll on his Truth Social platform on Sunday. The AfD’s message of anti-immigration, anti-woke culture, and "Germany for Germans" aligns with Trump's "Make America Great Again" slogan.
Interestingly, Trump is rarely mentioned on the campaign trail in Europe due to his unpopularity amongst voters. However, Russian interests seem more vocal, as evidenced by Kirill Dmitriev, CEO of the Russian Direct Investment Fund, declaring the AfD result "historic," Germany's national government "discredited," and Chancellor Merz "humiliated."
Why Russia has skin in the game