Why Has the German Election Caused Such a Huge Shake-Up?

According to Reuters, in the election for Saxony-Anhalt, the Alternative for Germany (AfD) secured 43.8% of the vote. In contrast, five years ago, the party had only received 20.8%. Meanwhile, the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), led by Merz who has governed the state for 24 years, obtained just 17.2% of the vote—nearly halved compared to the previous round.

For post-war Germany, this performance by the AfD is almost unprecedented: the far-right party won 39 out of 83 seats in the state parliament, falling just three seats short of an absolute majority. Other parties have already declared they will not form a coalition government with the AfD. This approach in Germany is referred to as a "firewall" against far-right forces. As such, how the new government in this state will be formed remains unclear.

It should be noted that Germany's domestic intelligence agencies classify the AfD as a far-right movement. The party advocates strict restrictions on immigration, the restoration of relations with Russia, and opposition to aid for Ukraine. Therefore, the possibility of this party gaining power in one German state has implications far beyond local politics.

For the CDU, this election constitutes a devastating defeat. Merz stated he was “deeply shaken,” calling it the worst electoral loss the party has suffered in decades. He admitted that after the voting concluded, the changes were not limited to Saxony-Anhalt—but rather, to all of Germany.

This result also serves as a warning for Germany’s federal election in 2029. The magazine *International* wrote that the AfD has already labeled its victory in Saxony-Anhalt as the first step toward gaining power at the federal level. While a single state election result does not guarantee success in the federal parliamentary election, a vote share approaching 44% clearly indicates a significant shift in political orientation among parts of the German electorate.

Original article: toutiao.com/article/1875697128333312/

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