Thousands Protest AfD Victory in Saxony-Anhalt

The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) won the state election in Saxony-Anhalt with 43.8 percent of the vote, but fell three seats short of a governing majority, complicating government formation as established parties refuse to cooperate. Thousands of protesters gathered across Germany, including about 14,000 in Berlin, to denounce the AfD's victory. Chancellor Friedrich Merz called the result a historic defeat for his CDU party, while AfD leaders declared their intention to govern and seek a national breakthrough. The election was marked by significant disinformation campaigns, with observers attributing some influence efforts to Russian networks. International reactions were divided, with right-wing figures congratulating the AfD while French and Polish officials expressed concern.