Hamburg politicians alarmed by AfD's election success in Saxony-Anhalt

The AfD's election success in Saxony-Anhalt has triggered alarm in Hamburg, with Mayor Peter Tschentscher calling it a "heavy blow" to Germany's political stability and a test for the rule of law. Tschentscher noted the AfD, a party classified as securely right-wing extremist, came close to an absolute majority, while the CDU's vote share halved to 17.2 percent. Hamburg CDU leader Dennis Thering called the result a "bitter outcome" and a warning to the federal government. Hamburg's SPD, Greens, and Left parties expressed concern, with the Greens calling it a danger to democracy. Hundreds of people demonstrated in Hamburg's city center against the far-right, while Hamburg's AfD chief congratulated his party colleagues on the "fulminant" result.