In the wake of the historic victory of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party in a regional election in Saxony-Anhalt, in the east of the country, reactions go far beyond its borders.
In Germany
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said he was “deeply shocked” on Monday the day after the election in Saxony-Anhalt, while promising to maintain the course of his reforms but explaining them better. My determination is to continue the course of reforms, without disruption, but I know that (…) we must explain them better,” he said after a meeting of the leadership of his conservative party, the CDU.
Very unpopular, weighed down by disputes within his coalition with the social democrats over the reforms to be carried out, and several blunders, he acknowledged having a responsibility in this defeat while insisting on his “determination” to govern. “Nothing more or less depends on the future of our country,” he said, before recalling that he had been “elected for four years” since 2025, thus seeming to rule out any resignation. “Giving up is not an option.”
The head of the AfD list, Ulrich Siegmund, made a strong contribution to the party’s historic breakthrough in Saxony-Anhalt. Photo Sipa/Kay Nietfeld
As for the victory of Alternative for Germany (AfD), he judged that it had to be accepted “in a democracy” but promised to defend “the fundamental law”, while the AfD is regularly accused of authoritarian temptations, racism and links with the neo-Nazi movement. “We know that Germany, because of its (Nazi) History, has a particular responsibility. We will always preserve our political order and our solid footing in Europe,” he said. He recognized that the electoral rise of the AfD was a game-changer “across Germany”.
The chancellor also recalled that two other regional elections were planned for September 20, in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania (north) where the AfD is in the lead according to the polls, and in Berlin where CDU, far left and far right are neck and neck. As for Saxony-Anhalt, its conservative leader beaten on Sunday, Sven Schulze, recognized that the Alternative for Germany has a “mandate to govern”, even if it is three elected officials short of reaching an absolute majority.
In the United States
“Well done”, “new day in Germany”: the electoral triumph of the far right in Saxony-Anhalt arouses joy within the MAGA sphere and among Donald Trump’s supporters in the United States. The American president himself has not yet explicitly reacted but he expressed his interest in the event without comment by posting an infographic of the results of the vote on Sunday evening on his Truth Social network.
“A huge victory and a new day in Germany,” Richard Grenell, former ambassador of the United States to Germany during Donald Trump’s first term, bluntly welcomed X. “The people are ready for change, whatever the names we give it,” added this diplomat close to the Republican president.
Shortly before, multi-billionaire Elon Musk was one of the first to greet the AfD’s victory with a resounding “Well done!” » in response to a post on X by Alice Weidel, co-leader of the German far-right party. The leader of the AfD in Saxony-Anhalt, Ulrich Siegmund, thanked him immediately, declaring that he was considering “with great pleasure the possibility of cooperation” with the boss of SpaceX and Tesla. “Germany would once again become a country worth investing in,” said Ulrich Siegmund. Elon Musk is a long-time supporter of the AfD, which he already called “Germany’s best hope” before the February 2025 legislative elections.
In Spain
“The extremist threat, largely thanks to the surrender of the traditional right, is gaining ground in Europe and in the world,” said Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez on Monday, referring to the victory of the Alternative for Germany (AfD) in Saxony-Arnhalt.
“A government like the progressive coalition we have in Spain is more necessary today than ever. The world is watching us,” the leader, at the head of one of the rare left-wing governments in Europe, continued to the Socialist Party deputies.
