German politicians urge Merz to change course after AfD's Saxony-Anhalt win
The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party won the state election in Saxony-Anhalt, prompting German political leaders to urge Chancellor Friedrich Merz's government to reconsider its approach to voters. The victory has shaken the country's political establishment. Christian Democratic Union (CDU) leaders called the result a turning point, while the party's general secretary ruled out cooperation with the AfD or the Left party. Social Democrat Lars Klingbeil called the vote a "signal for Berlin," and a Left party lawmaker described the outcome as catastrophic, blaming Merz's government for creating fertile ground for the far-right. The AfD secured 43.8% of the vote but not an absolute majority. Merz acknowledged a "dramatic defeat" for the CDU, while AfD co-leader Alice Weidel celebrated a "historic result" and announced the party would invite all others to negotiations.