AfD's historic win in Saxony-Anhalt shakes Germany's political landscape

Germany's far-right AfD won a historic state election in Saxony-Anhalt on Sunday, capturing roughly 44 percent of the vote and 39 seats, a result that deals a major blow to Chancellor Friedrich Merz's centre-right CDU and challenges the country's post-war political consensus. The AfD doubled its vote share from 2021, while the CDU slumped to a historic low of about 17.5 percent. The party, led by 35-year-old Ulrich Siegmund, fell three seats short of an absolute majority, leaving mainstream parties bound by a "firewall" pledge unable to form a coalition and facing potential legislative paralysis. The result has raised concerns across Europe over Germany's political stability, with implications for EU climate policies, Nato alignment, and support for Ukraine. The AfD's platform includes ending military aid to Ukraine, lifting sanctions on Russia, and reassessing Germany's Nato commitments.