AfD wins decisive victory in Germany's Saxony-Anhalt regional election

Germany's far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party won a decisive victory in Sunday's regional election in Saxony-Anhalt, according to exit polls, marking the first time a far-right party has reached the threshold of regional power in Germany since World War II. The AfD secured 44% of the vote, falling short of an absolute majority but delivering a major setback to Chancellor Friedrich Merz's conservatives amid widespread dissatisfaction with the federal coalition. Party leader Ulrich Siegmund called the result historic, while traditional parties have refused to cooperate with the AfD, which is under surveillance for right-wing extremism. The election saw 77% voter turnout, with the far-left BSW party potentially enabling a coalition. The AfD, now Germany's most popular party nationally at 28%, has drawn international reactions from figures like Eric Zemmour and Jean-Luc Mélenchon, while Merz faces growing criticism over his leadership.