AfD's Landslide in Saxony-Anhalt Rattles European Leaders

The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) won a landslide victory in the Saxony-Anhalt state election, marking its strongest showing in a German state vote since the Nazi era and alarming European leaders. The AfD secured 44 percent of the vote, winning 39 of 83 seats, just short of an outright majority, while Chancellor Friedrich Merz's CDU suffered a heavy defeat with only 17.2 percent. Merz called the outcome "deeply shocking" but ruled out stepping aside. European officials voiced concern, with Spanish PM Pedro Sanchez calling it a "warning" of a spreading far-right threat, while Polish PM Donald Tusk condemned supporters as "idiots or traitors." Elon Musk congratulated the AfD, which thanked him for support.