Germany’s Center Fails as Far-Right AfD Surges in East

The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) won 43.8% of the vote in Saxony-Anhalt's state election on Sunday, a resounding victory that threatens Chancellor Friedrich Merz's leadership and Germany's postwar political order. The CDU lost half its support in the state, and the AfD has overtaken it in national polls while Merz's approval ratings hit unprecedented lows. His grand coalition has failed to enact reforms or hold the far-right at bay, with two more regional elections scheduled this month. The AfD, classified as right-wing extremist in parts, has risen through anti-immigration stances and nativist appeal amid economic stagnation. Merz's firewall against coalition with the AfD remains, but his government's incompetence is fueling voter anger across eastern Germany.