"We are all deeply shocked": German chancellor comments on AfD victory in Saxony-Anhalt elections

The German chancellor, Friedrich Merz, this Monday expressed deep shock at the victory of the far-right party Alternative for Germany (AfD) in the regional elections held in the state of Saxony-Anhalt. Merz, who is also leader of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), considered that this result represents the most serious electoral defeat that his party has suffered in years, or even decades. The chancellor did not specify what the exact percentage of votes obtained by the AfD was, nor the complete results of the elections. The victory of the far-right formation comes at a time of political tension in Germany, where the growth of populist parties has been worrying traditional political forces. This result in the regional elections of Saxony-Anhalt reinforces the trend of advance of the AfD in various German states, which has posed significant challenges for Merz's government and for the CDU in its attempt to maintain its electoral base.