AfD victory in Saxony-Anhalt ‘tectonic upheaval’ for German politics

The far-right Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) party secured a significant victory in the Saxony-Anhalt state elections, winning 43.8% of the vote and 39 seats, which German Chancellor Friedrich Merz described as “a tectonic upheaval in our party system.” This outcome, which saw the AfD fall short of a unilateral majority, has prompted Merz to state, “This shakes our party to its very foundations. We cannot simply return to business as usual.” The AfD, labeled antisemitic by German Jewish groups, gained support due to voter concerns over immigration and cost-of-living issues. Despite its success, forming a coalition remains challenging as other parties have largely ruled out cooperation. Josef Schuster, president of Germany’s Central Council of Jews, warned that the “damage would be immense” if the AfD formed a local government, particularly regarding its potential influence on school curricula.