The small German state of Saxony-Anhalt holds elections on Sunday that could mark a historic moment: the AfD (Alternative for Germany) could rise to a state government for the first time in over 80 years, since the Nazi regime. The far-right party appears ahead in the polls for these elections, representing a significant shift in the German political landscape.
This result raises immediate problems for Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who faces the prospect of having a state government controlled by the far-right. The situation also raises concerns for the rest of Europe, given the political weight that the AfD has gained in recent years.
The AfD also leads in the polls for one of the two upcoming local elections in the country, scheduled for September 20. This pattern indicates a growing trend of support for the far-right party at different levels of the German electoral process.
In Berlin specifically, the party could double the number of votes it previously obtained, demonstrating consistent growth in different regions of the country. This advance of the AfD represents a significant challenge for the traditional German political establishment and for the stability of Merz's government.
