Germany's Merz vows to press reforms despite far-right AfD's landslide state victory
The anti-migration Alternative for Germany surged to near-majority in a regional election Sunday, prompting Chancellor Merz to reaffirm both Germany's democratic values and his commitment to unpopular economic reforms.
What happened
The AfD fell just short of a majority in Sunday's election in Saxony-Anhalt, an eastern German state. The party, designated a proven right-wing extremist group by Germany's domestic intelligence agency, now has a credible path to form the first far-right state government since the Nazi era. AfD candidate Ulrich Siegmund signaled the party would pursue coalition-building with other lawmakers to reach the three additional seats needed for a majority, with the hard-left BSW party and potential defectors from other parties as possible partners. Chancellor Friedrich Merz acknowledged the result as "the most serious election defeat that the CDU has had for years, for decades" but said he would not abandon his push for fundamental economic reforms, including to the pension system. The victory drew congratulations from Elon Musk, right-wing populist leaders in Europe, and Russian officials, while Poland's Prime Minister Donald Tusk criticized it sharply.
Context
Germany's center-right government, led by Merz and allied with the center-left Social Democrats, has become deeply unpopular amid struggling economic performance and difficulty selling voters on potentially painful reforms. The AfD's surge occurs at a moment when Europe faces Russia's continued aggression in Ukraine, suspected NATO sabotage campaigns, and complex relations with the Trump administration. Merz sought to reassure international allies that German institutions remain resilient and that the country will maintain its values, constitution, and stance defending Ukraine against Russia—commitments he framed as rooted in Germany's historical responsibility given its Nazi past. Germany has not yet had a far-right party lead a national, state, or major-city government in the modern era; other major parties maintain a "firewall" refusing cooperation with the AfD. Two additional regional elections are scheduled for September 20 in Berlin and Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, where AfD is also strong.