German chancellor Friedrich Merz has said the far-right Alternative für Deutschland’s victory in Saxony-Anhalt is a shock and “an election result we cannot simply move past”.
The chancellor said the vote for the far-right party “will have repercussions” across the country.
In his reaction to the result, Merz said the country still needed “fundamental reforms” and defended his government’s record. He rejected any talk of “giving up” and resigning from office.
The CDU’s state leader in Saxony-Anhalt conceded that the party no longer had a mandate to govern in the state.
AfD leaders celebrated what they called “a dream result”, saying it showed a growing appetite for change in German politics.
Merz also criticised the AfD’s close links with Russia and pledged to continue Germany’s support for Ukraine, despite the growing popularity of pro-Russian parties and the latest hostile moves from Russia.
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