Far-right wins major elections in Germany - Blow to Merz

 It was arguably to be expected: following economic stagnation and unpopular measures, Merz's popularity has declined.



Neither the public nor the business community sees results from the government's policies. Changes to the pension system have further eroded confidence in the CDU leader.


The result is that the AfD party is capitalizing on this discontent to gain votes. Indeed, Friedrich Merz himself has expressed shock at what he calls the "most serious electoral defeat his party has suffered in years."


The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD)—which opposes immigration and advocates for closer ties with Russia—secured a major victory in the Saxony-Anhalt regional elections, capturing 43.8% of the vote.


The ruling party’s share plummeted to just 17.2%.


The AfD secured 39 of the 83 seats, falling just three short of an absolute majority. Yet, despite the *Brandmauer*—a pact among traditional parties to refuse coalitions with the far right—there remains a possibility that those three seats could ultimately go to the AfD.


Discontent is evident, and Germans appear to be finding an outlet for this sentiment in Alternative for Germany.

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