The Alternative for Germany party (AfD) provoked the German chancellor after a victory in regional elections in Saxony-Anhalt. Opening the annual budget debate in Parliament, Alice Weidel stated that German citizens "want political change and they will have it."
The AfD parliamentary leader made this statement after Friedrich Merz's party — the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) — suffered a crushing defeat in the regional elections.
The AfD's victory in Saxony-Anhalt represents a significant milestone in German politics, with the party capitalizing on the result to pressure the government and assert that voters are demanding a change of direction.
The episode highlights political tensions in Germany and the strengthening of the AfD at the regional level, at a time when traditional parties face growing challenges from right-wing extremist political forces.
