German Chancellor Friedrich Merz was facing pressure Monday after the far-right Alternative Germany (AfD) party swept to a landslide victory in a regional election, possibly paving the way for the first right-wing populist state government since the Nazi era.
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.
Because of Germany’s Nazi past, far-right movements have always come under strong scrutiny, with the other major parties maintaining a firewall against any form of cooperation. Unlike most 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
Merz, who leads the center-right Christian Democrats, came to power vowing to weaken AfD, but was unable to deliver on his promise.
AfD’s strong victory is a major distraction for Germany and Merz at a time when Europe faces several challenges, including Russia’s continued aggression against Ukraine, a suspected sabotage campaign targeting NATO countries, and difficult dealings with U.S. President Donald Trump.
Far-right parties across Europe cheered the result.
