"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.
Merz likely to face blame for his party’s poor showing
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."
Framing: assertive ·
First seen: 2026-09-07 ·
Last seen: 2026-09-07 ·
Spread: 1 articles