Far-right AfD victory in Saxony-Anhalt sparks political crisis for Merz

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz faced a major challenge on Monday after the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party won the Saxony-Anhalt state election, giving the anti-immigration party a chance to lead a local government for the first time since 1945.

AfD co-leader Alice Weidel declared the landslide victory showed Merz had become a "major burden" for Germany, stressing that the election reflected the public's desire for political change.

Since taking office in May 2025, Merz has suffered a series of setbacks despite pledging to contain the rise of the far-right, which has become the country's second-largest political force and the biggest opposition party.

AfD claims victory in Saxony-Anhalt

Ulrich Siegmund, 35, led AfD to win 44% of the vote, compared to less than 18% for the conservatives, according to AFP, marking a significant lead.

The party secured 39 seats in the state parliament, three short of an absolute majority of 42, forcing it to seek coalitions with other parties—most of which have ruled out cooperation.

Saxony-Anhalt now faces a period of political uncertainty and negotiations, with observers describing the result as a "real earthquake" in a country still grappling with the legacy of the Third Reich.

Founded in 2013 as a Eurosceptic party, AfD later shifted to a liberal, anti-immigration stance and built its base in eastern Germany.

The Christian Democratic Union and other parties have ruled out alliances with the far-right, despite overtures from Siegmund and Weidel.

Merz faces mounting difficulties

Merz is meeting his party leadership today to analyze the defeat, amid expectations that he will struggle to remain in power without broad coalitions, which appear unlikely.

MP Sepp Müller stated that AfD now has the mandate to form the local government.

Deputy Chancellor Lars Klingbeil described the victory as "a message directed at Berlin."

Political science professor Oliver Lembcke called the result "more than a crushing defeat" for the Christian Democrats, predicting a major reshaping of the party landscape.

Merz faces internal, economic, and political challenges, amid rumors that some party leaders want to replace him. However, conservative bloc leader Thorsten Frei called for stability and cautioned against hasty conclusions.

Merz is preparing for two key elections on September 20, with forecasts suggesting further AfD gains in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern and a tight race in Berlin.