AfD's record win in Saxony-Anhalt shakes Berlin and Paris

Germany's far-right AfD won a historic regional election in Saxony-Anhalt with about 44 percent of the vote, a record result that has shaken Berlin and Paris and intensified pressure on Chancellor Friedrich Merz. The CDU secured roughly 18 percent, while the AfD fell just three seats short of an absolute majority in the state parliament. French Finance Minister Roland Lescure called the outcome a "very, very worrying signal" for Europe, citing a global populist wave. The AfD's state branch is classified as right-wing extremist by German intelligence, and mainstream parties have maintained a firewall against cooperation. The result has sparked calls within the CDU for strategic reflection ahead of the 2029 federal election.