AfD targets more gains in German elections after historic state win

Germany's far-right AfD party, emboldened by a historic state election win, is targeting further gains in three upcoming elections, starting with municipal voting in Lower Saxony on Sunday and followed by state elections in Berlin and Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. The AfD won 43.8% of the vote in Saxony-Anhalt on Sept. 6, securing 39 of 83 seats and marking its greatest state election victory in Germany since World War II. The party leads polls in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania with about 35%, while competing for first place in Berlin with the CDU and Linke, each around 20%. Analysts say the elections will test whether the AfD's success reflects broader national momentum or an isolated eastern result. The party's agenda includes reducing Holocaust education, banning Pride flags, and using state powers over policing to pressure minorities, while its rise has intensified pressure on Chancellor Friedrich Merz's unpopular government.