Germany Election
Top candidate Ulrich Siegmund shakes hands with party leader Tino Chrupalla at an election party of the "Alternative for Germany" (AfD) after the Saxony-Anhalt state elections in Magdeburg, eastern Germany, Sunday, Sept. 6, 2026.
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German Chancellor Friedrich Merz is under pressure after the far-right Alternative Germany (AfD) party achieved a significant victory in a regional election. AfD nearly secured a majority in Saxony-Anhalt on Sunday, marking a potential shift for Germany, which has avoided far-right leadership since the Nazi era. Merz, who leads the center-right Christian Democrats, had promised to weaken AfD but failed. The victory complicates Germany's political landscape amid challenges like Russia's aggression against Ukraine. AfD's win could energize the party in upcoming elections, and coalition talks are expected to be tricky.
