Holocaust survivor fears far-right AfD victory in Saxony-Anhalt

Holocaust survivor Eva Umlauf expressed horror at the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party's victory in Saxony-Anhalt, bringing it within reach of power in a German state for the first time since World War Two. She said she is "appalled" and "saddened" by the result. Umlauf, a pediatrician and president of the International Auschwitz Committee, said she fears for minorities and foreigners, reflecting broader alarm among Jewish groups. The AfD, which rejects Nazi comparisons, wants to restrict immigration and downplays Germany's Nazi past, with its Saxony-Anhalt branch classified as right-wing extremist. The election occurred amid heightened anxiety over rising antisemitism in Europe since the October 2023 Hamas attack on Israel. Umlauf hopes the AfD's roughly 30% support will mobilize the other 70% of Germans against the party.