AfD's strongest state win sparks protests across Germany

Thousands of people protested across Germany after the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) achieved its strongest-ever state election result, raising fears of further gains in upcoming polls. The protests followed the AfD's victory in Saxony-Anhalt, where it won nearly 44% of the vote and 39 of 83 seats, though it fell short of a governing majority. Demonstrations occurred in Berlin and several other cities, with organizers claiming over 14,000 attendees in Berlin alone. The result has pressured Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who ruled out cooperation with the AfD, while the party leads polls in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania ahead of September 20 elections. The AfD has been classified as right-wing extremist by domestic intelligence in Saxony-Anhalt.