Chancellor Friedrich Merz vowed Monday to push forward with significant economic reforms in Germany, a day after the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party achieved a substantial victory in a regional election, raising the possibility of the first far-right state government since the Nazi era.
Merz described the outcome in Saxony-Anhalt as a "deeply shocking" and "most serious election defeat" for his Christian Democratic Union (CDU) party in decades. However, he stated that "giving up is not an option" and that he remains determined to lead. The AfD, an anti-migration and Russia-friendly party, narrowly missed an outright majority in Sunday's vote in the eastern state. Its regional branch is designated as a right-wing extremist group by Germany's domestic intelligence agency.
The AfD's success presents a significant challenge for Germany and Merz as the country navigates geopolitical issues, including Russia's ongoing aggression in Ukraine, suspected sabotage targeting NATO nations, and complex relations with U.S. President Donald Trump. Merz sought to reassure international partners, stating that "our institutions are resilient and stable" and that Germany will uphold its constitution and values, acknowledging the nation's "special responsibility because of its history."
He reiterated his commitment to defending freedom against Russia, underscoring Germany's role as a major supporter of Ukraine. Historically, far-right movements in Germany have faced intense scrutiny due to the country's Nazi past, leading other major parties to maintain a "firewall" against cooperating with the AfD. Modern Germany has not yet seen a far-right or right-wing populist party lead a national or state government.
Merz had previously pledged to diminish the AfD's influence but has instead witnessed its support grow. His governing coalition, formed with the center-left Social Democrats, has faced public dissatisfaction, partly due to internal disputes and struggles to convince voters of its economic strategy, which includes potentially unpopular reforms to the pension system. Merz insisted that "fundamental reforms are necessary" for the country's future and the prospects of future generations, expressing an unbroken determination to continue the reform course while acknowledging the need to explain these measures effectively.
Germany is scheduled for two more regional elections on September 20 in Berlin and Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, where the AfD also holds significant support.
While Merz prepares to confront domestic resistance to reforms, the AfD faces its own strategic challenges in attempting to form a government in Saxony-Anhalt. Ulrich Siegmund, the AfD's candidate for governor, has indicated the party is unwilling to compromise its pre-election promises and has rejected the idea of a minority government. Nevertheless, he asserted a "clear mandate to form the government" and indicated the party would seek to build a stable majority in the legislature in the coming weeks.
The AfD is three seats short of a majority. Potential alliances could include the hard-left BSW party, which also won seats and shares the AfD's Russia-friendly stance and opposition to immigration, though disagreements exist on other issues. The BSW has been critical of the "firewall" and has suggested it might allow Siegmund to become governor by abstaining in a potential vote. Alternatively, defections from other parties could provide the AfD with the necessary seats. Forming a government that excludes the AfD would require an unlikely and potentially unstable coalition of all other parties.
International reactions to the AfD's victory were varied. Billionaire Elon Musk offered congratulations on his online platform X, which Siegmund acknowledged. Russian presidential envoy Kirill Dmitriev praised the outcome as a "historic win for the pragmatic AfD" and predicted it would "restore Germany and Europe." Leaders of right-wing populist parties in Spain and Portugal also congratulated the AfD. Conversely, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk called any celebration of the AfD's success by Poles "idiotic or traitorous." French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot stated that the AfD's platform "is a betrayal of the European spirit" and emphasized the need to resist the normalization of far-right ideas.
Among voters who did not support the AfD, reactions ranged from dismay to shock. Horst Walter Boerner, an 86-year-old resident of Magdeburg, expressed deep concern, calling the election results "terrible" and attributing the outcome to fear. He acknowledged that the AfD's strong campaign presence made the victory foreseeable but stated, "this should have never happened."