Germany's far-right AfD wins historic state election, alarming Europe

Germany's far-right Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) achieved a historic state election victory in Saxony-Anhalt on Monday, shocking Europe and raising urgent questions about countering the rising far right. France's European affairs minister called it "a very grave moment for Europe." The AfD won 44% of the vote, just short of an absolute majority, with turnout surging to 77.8% from 60.3% in 2021. Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who pledged to halve the AfD's support, instead saw it double, and vowed to stay in office despite being "deeply shocked." The party's success is driven by voter alienation over the economy and migration, with one in three supporters aligning with its extremist ideology. Coalition talks now loom, with the AfD potentially governing with the hard-left Bündnis Sahra Wagenknecht party. A far-right governor would control education, policing, and public broadcasting, and give the AfD seats in the Bundesrat upper house. With more state elections later this month and the AfD leading national polls, the result signals broader peril for Europe's mainstream parties.