Putin blames Western mistakes for Europe's challenges as far-right AfD wins German state vote

Russian President Vladimir Putin said Saturday that current European challenges, including the far-right Alternative for Germany's (AfD) electoral surge, stem from systemic mistakes by the West in politics, security, and the economy. He spoke on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit. The AfD won 44.5 percent of the vote in Saxony-Anhalt's state election, more than double the CDU's 18.5 percent, marking the first time a far-right party topped a German state election since World War II. Former Chancellor Angela Merkel acknowledged some past decisions fueled AfD support. Despite the historic win, the AfD fell short of an absolute majority and has never joined a governing coalition, as mainstream parties maintain a refusal to cooperate with it, a barrier known as the "firewall." The result is a setback for Chancellor Friedrich Merz's CDU.