{"id":2655503,"date":"2026-09-07T09:43:02","date_gmt":"2026-09-07T13:43:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/landslide-victory-for-germanys-afd-in-election-piles-pressure-on-merz\/"},"modified":"2026-09-07T09:47:32","modified_gmt":"2026-09-07T13:47:32","slug":"landslide-victory-for-germanys-afd-in-election-piles-pressure-on-merz","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/landslide-victory-for-germanys-afd-in-election-piles-pressure-on-merz\/","title":{"rendered":"Landslide victory for Germany\u2019s AfD in election piles pressure on Merz"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">22<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Flandslide-victory-for-germanys-afd-in-election-piles-pressure-on-merz%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2655503&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>German Chancellor Friedrich Merz is under pressure following a notable victory by the far-right Option Germany (AfD) party in the regional election of Saxony-anhalt, possibly leading to Germany&#8217;s first right-wing populist state government since the Nazi era. AfD, considered extremist by some German intelligence agencies, narrowly missed a majority in the election, which saw a surge in support for the party-winning 43.8% of the vote, more than double its previous support five years ago. This victory challenges the traditionally strong stance of mainstream parties that avoid cooperation with AfD due to Germany&#8217;s Nazi history. <\/p>\n<p>Merz, leader of the center-right Christian Democrats, had aimed to weaken AfD but failed, as support for his party halved. The election results weaken Merz&#8217;s political position and could influence upcoming elections in other states. The election was marked by high turnout and generated both festivity among right-wing populists and concern among others. Prominent international figures,including Elon Musk and right-wing leaders in Spain and Portugal,congratulated AfD,while Polish leader Donald Tusk criticized the victory. <\/p>\n<p>The election outcome has set the stage for complex coalition negotiations, with AfD&#8217;s candidate, Ulrich Siegmund, aiming to form a government, possibly with a hard-left party that shares similar nationalist views. The win has also energized far-right parties across Europe, amidst ongoing European concerns over migration, security, and geopolitical tensions such as Russia\u2019s actions and NATO-related issues.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<article class=\"fn-body\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>BERLIN (AP) \u2014 <\/strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/germany\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"298\">German<\/a> Chancellor <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/friedrich-merz\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"11796\">Friedrich Merz<\/a> was facing pressure Monday after the far-right Alternative Germany (AfD) party swept to a landslide victory\u00a0in a regional election, possibly paving the way for the first right-wing populist state government since the Nazi era.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">AfD, classified by Germany\u2019s domestic intelligence agency as an extremist group in some regions of the country, fell just short of a majority in Sunday\u2019s election in the eastern state of Saxony-Anhalt.<\/p>\n<section class=\"explore-more-section\" id=\"wex-recommended-widget\">\n<div class=\"magazine-container single\">\n<h1 class=\"magazine-title mt-2\">Recommended Stories<\/h1>\n<p>             <i class=\"fa-solid fa-play icon\"><\/i>         <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-grid\">\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/world\/4715744\/afd-election-victory-germany-friedrich-merz\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Landslide victory for Germany\u2019s far-right AfD in state election piles pressure on Chancellor Merz<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/world\/4715528\/german-afd-party-win-regional-election\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>German right-wing party set for strong win in regional election but uncertain of governing<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/world\/4715133\/mike-huckabee-condemn-israel-settler-terrorist\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Mike Huckabee again condemns violent Israeli settlers as \u2018terrorists\u2019 in West Bank visit<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Because of Germany\u2019s Nazi past, far-right movements have always come under strong scrutiny, with the other major parties maintaining a\u00a0firewall against any form of cooperation. Unlike most countries in Europe, modern Germany hasn\u2019t yet had a far-right or right<a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/german-afd-set-for-strong-win-in-regional-election-but-uncertain-of-governing\/\" title=\"German ... set for strong win in ... but uncertain of governing\">-wing populist party leading<\/a> a national, state or major-city government<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-1\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-1\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-15\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-1\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Merz, who leads the center-right Christian Democrats, came to power vowing to weaken AfD, but was unable to deliver on his promise.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">AfD\u2019s strong victory is a major distraction for Germany and Merz at a time when Europe faces several challenges, including Russia\u2019s continued\u00a0aggression against Ukraine, a suspected\u00a0sabotage campaign\u00a0targeting NATO countries, and difficult dealings with U.S. President Donald Trump.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Far-right parties across Europe cheered the result.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-2\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-2\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-16\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-2\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h2 id=\"h-merz-likely-to-face-blame-for-his-party-s-poor-showing\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Merz likely to face blame for his party\u2019s poor showing<\/h2>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Tricky coalition talks lie ahead, and the AfD candidate for governor, Ulrich Siegmund, still aims to become the first far-right head of a state government.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI 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,\u201d Siegmund told reporters in Berlin on Monday.<a><\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/germany-saxony-anhalt-election-far-right-afd-3162fbdd71e6f745eeb239e294c15548\"><\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-3\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-3\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-17\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-3\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/germany-saxony-anhalt-election-far-right-afd-c538060710a2495c72425b6468df0d40\"><\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/germany-saxony-anhalt-election-afd-ulrich-siegmund-7f43ae2c42345ed879510bf63e23f3a9\"><\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The vote weakens the chancellor significantly and he will be partly held responsible for his party\u2019s historic loss after it led the state for the past 24 years. Support for Merz\u2019s CDU party fell by half, while AfD more than doubled its share of the vote. The result could also energize AfD in other state elections later this month.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-4\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-4\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-25\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-4\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Merz is expected to comment later on Monday after meetings of his party and government leaders.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">AfD, known for its pro-Russian and radical anti-immigration stance, is the\u00a0biggest opposition party\u00a0in Germany\u2019s national parliament and is strongest in the formerly communist and less prosperous east, where Saxony-Anhalt is located.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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\u2019s\u00a0sluggish economy\u00a0moving.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-5\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-5\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-26\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-5\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h2 id=\"h-hard-left-party-could-play-a-kingmaker-role\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Hard-left party could play a kingmaker role<\/h2>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">While Siegmund has rejected an AfD minority government, his party could possibly govern with the hard-left BSW party, which received 5.3% of the vote. The two parties share a Russia-friendly course and oppose immigration but do not agree on some other subjects.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">On Monday, BSW\u2019s lead candidate in the election, Thomas Schulze, expressed his party\u2019s willingness again to help an AfD governor take office in the state parliament.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Forming a government that excludes the AfD would only be possible if all the other parties that were elected worked together \u2014 CDU, Social Democrats, the Greens, the Left Party, and the BSW. However, a coalition involving five partners would be extremely unusual, very complicated and prone to instability.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It\u2019s also possible that newly elected lawmakers from other parties could defect to AfD \u2014 it would only need three people to get a majority to govern.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThe task before us is a very clear mandate to form the government,\u201d Siegmund said, adding that his party would reach out to all other new factions in parliament and even to individual lawmakers. \u201cOur goal now is to build precisely this stable majority in the coming days and weeks.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">AfD previously won a state election but didn\u2019t end up governing. That was two years ago in\u00a0neighboring Thuringia, where a CDU governor took power with a minority government, but AfD was much further short of a majority there. So far, the country\u2019s mainstream parties have adhered to\u00a0the so-called firewall,\u00a0meaning they refused to work with AfD.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"h-jubilation-from-musk-and-right-wing-populists\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Jubilation from Musk and right-wing populists<\/h2>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Billionaire <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/elon-musk\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"1412\">Elon Musk <\/a>congratulated the party on its election victory with a \u201cWell done!\u201d on his online platform X.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Siegmund immediately thanked him for his support, replying in English: \u201cIf we take on responsibility here, I would very much welcome the opportunity for strong and constructive cooperation. Germany would then once again be a place worth investing in. Best regards from Saxony-Anhalt!\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Trump posted a screenshot of the election projection on his \u201cTruth Social\u201d platform without any comment.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Russian presidential envoy Kirill Dmitriev on X described the outcome of the election as a \u201chistoric win for the pragmatic AfD that will put migration under control.\u201d In a separate post, Dmitriev said that \u201cAfD will restore Germany and Europe by leading the commons-sense approach that migrant-friendly, warmongering Biden-think EU politicians tried to eradicate.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The leaders of right-wing populist parties in <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/spain\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"1864\">Spain<\/a> and <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/portugal\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"3063\">Portugal<\/a> also congratulated AfD, German news agency dpa reported.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/poland\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"2246\">Polish<\/a> prime minister was critical. \u201cIn Poland, only idiots or traitors could rejoice the AfD triumph in Germany,\u201d Donald Tusk wrote on X.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And among voters who didn\u2019t back AfD, the reaction was one of deep dismay.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Horst Walter Boerner, 86, from Magdeburg, expressed shock. He was a child during World War II and the Nazi era.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cIt\u2019s terrible for us,\u201d he said, saying the election was \u201cfear-driven.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">AfD\u2019s victory was foreseeable because of the crowds it drew during the campaign, but he said \u201cthis should have never happened.\u201d<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"h-afd-calls-the-result-a-signal-for-change\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">AfD calls the result a signal for change<\/h2>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">AfD won 43.8% of the vote, more than double its showing five years ago in Saxony-Anhalt, west of Berlin.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That was far ahead of Merz\u2019s party, which polled 17.2% \u2014 losing about half its support \u2014 and won 15 seats. The center-left Social Democrats polled 9.3%, the Greens 8.9% and the Left Party 8.6%, winning eight seats apiece.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The BSW party took 5.3% and five seats.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Turnout was very high at 77.8%. AfD appeared to have won over many people who didn\u2019t vote at all five years ago.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Alice Weidel, one of AfD\u2019s two national leaders, praised the turnout and said the result was a signal for change.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/in_focus\/4714150\/russia-state-sponsored-terrorism-german-airport-threat-hot-conflict\/\">RUSSIAN \u2018STATE-SPONSORED TERRORISM\u2019 AT GERMAN AIRPORT REVEALS ESCALATING THREAT OF HOT CONFLICT WITH EUROPE<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cNo chancellor before has been as unpopular as Friedrich Merz, who has become a major obstacle to Germany\u2019s prosperous development,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThe people in this country no longer want business as usual when it comes to illegal immigration, open borders, skyrocketing crime rates among foreign nationals, refused deportations, and a disastrous energy policy.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Merkel successor under pressure after AfD&#8217;s regional win<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2634,"featured_media":2655504,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/AP26249706755348.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[47181,3728,3946,56293,5894],"class_list":["post-2655503","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-afd","tag-election","tag-germany","tag-merz","tag-politics"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/AP26249706755348.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2655503","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2634"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2655503"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2655503\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2655507,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2655503\/revisions\/2655507"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2655504"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2655503"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2655503"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2655503"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}