AfD — page 2

Friedrich Merz vows to stay in office after CDU ‘disaster’ in German state elections

Far-right AfD wins in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania and leftwing Die Linke on course for victory in Berlin Germany’s embattled chancellor, Friedrich Merz, has vowed to stay in office and fight for future-proofing economic changes despite heavy losses for his conservatives in two state elections, one to the far right and the other to a leftwing party. Preliminary results indicated Merz’s Christian Democratic Union (CDU) tallied just over the 5% threshold to enter the state parliament in the coastal region of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, its worst-ever state score, which he called a “disaster”. Continue reading...

The Guardian•Deborah Cole in Berlin20 Sept

• critical toward Friedrich Merz · 90%

AfD ahead as Merz rues 'disaster' in worst state election result in postwar Germany

Germany's Merz vows to press on with reforms despite state election losses to far-right AfD

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz suffered a bruising electoral setback in two state elections on Sunday, including a historic defeat for his party, but vowed to press ahead with potentially painful reforms to Europe's biggest economy.

CBC News20 Sept

Germany’s Merz admits ‘disaster’ in state elections, vows to press ahead with reforms

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on Sunday described his CDU party's heavy losses in two regional elections as a "disaster", but vowed to push ahead with a reform drive. The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party took first place in ​the northeastern state of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, exit polls showed, and also gained in strength in another election in Berlin.

France 24•FRANCE 2420 Sept

Merz vows to stay on as chancellor despite ‘disaster’ in another German regional vote

The far-right AfD won its second regional election in two weeks, piling pressure on the country's center-right leader

POLITICO Europe•Nette Nöstlinger, James Angelos20 Sept

Germany's far-right AfD leads race in north-east state, exit poll shows

AfD threatens fresh blow to Merz: Two German states hold key vote

Two German states are heading to the polls today – in Berlin and the state of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. The far-right AfD party is expected to make further gains after securing a historic win in Saxony-Anhalt two weeks ago, though it has no realistic path to power in Berlin. Sunday's vote is a key test for Chancellor Friedrich Merz, one that could determine whether he can hold on to power. Details with Jamie Smith-Maillet, FRANCE 24 international affairs editor.

France 24•FRANCE2420 Sept

Germans head to the polls in state elections as pressure mounts on Merz

The AfD comes into Sunday's vote fresh off the back of its election success in Saxony-Anhalt earlier this month and will be hoping for further gains.

Euronews20 Sept

Germany's Merz under pressure as AfD eyes second state win

Exit polls have the far-right AfD leading the Social Democrats in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania and the Left Party ahead in Berlin. Merz referred to the outcome as "a disaster". DW has more.

Deutsche Welle20 Sept

Tense Berlin election finale: who is to emerge strongest in the capital?

The Left and the CDU are vying for first place, with the AfD and the Greens trailing and the SPD suffering heavy losses. An overview of parties, leading candidates, key issues and possible coalitions.

Euronews19 Sept

German-Russian relations at freezing point

Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine destroyed the once-close relationship between Moscow and Berlin. Yet the far-right AfD is calling for a normalization of relations.

Deutsche Welle19 Sept

Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania: Will economy shape the vote?

Voters in the eastern state of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania head to the polls on Sunday, with the Social Democrats and far-right AfD neck and neck. Here's a look at key economic issues that could influence the election.

Deutsche Welle19 Sept

The AfD is surging and Berlin is going to the polls. Could the ‘City of Freedom’ fall to the far-right?

After success in Saxony-Anhalt, the far-right AfD has trained its sights on state elections in the German capital of Berlin. In one of the world’s most liberal cities, the party is just four points off the lead in the polls. Alex Croft reports

The Independent•Alex Croft19 Sept

Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania: SPD seeks to fend off AfD

For nearly three decades, the Social Democrats have governed Germany's northeastern state. If they can fend off the AfD, the result may boost the fortunes of the German government's junior coalition partner.

Deutsche Welle19 Sept

AfD surge in eastern Germany makes some immigrants question whether they still belong

Fact Check: False video alleges Berlin votes destroyed

A video claiming to show AfD postal ballots being destroyed has gone viral ahead of Berlin's September 20 election. DW Fact Check examines the footage, the accounts sharing it and how widely it is really being viewed.

Deutsche Welle18 Sept

German leader under huge pressure as the far-right AfD gains steam

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz is facing a "crisis of authority and leadership" as immigration concerns fuel a far-right rise.

CBS News18 Sept

Exclusive-Putin envoy and far-right AfD prepare talks to get Russian gas back for Germany, sources say

The rise of the AfD: The all-or-nothing party

The AfD is riding high after its latest electoral triumph in Saxony-Anhalt. But one question remains: Does the far-right party actually want to govern?

Deutsche Welle18 Sept

Germany's far-right AfD party copied Trump's playbook and won. It now hopes to use it to govern

From creating a deportation task force to revising history lessons in schools, the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, which won a resounding victory in the state of Saxony-Anhlat last week and could soon hold power, wants to implement policies that echo some of those enacted by U.S. President Donald Trump.

CBC News•Jessica Singer18 Sept

• favorable toward Donald Trump · 68%