Merz vows reforms after AfD's Saxony-Anhalt landslide shocks Germany

Friedrich Merz said he will push ahead with reforms after AfD's Saxony-Anhalt win. The result piles pressure on his government and tests Germany's far-right firewall.Image used for representational purposes onlyGerman Chancellor Friedrich Merz on Monday insisted that he would press ahead with unpopular economic reforms after the far-right Alternative for Germany, or AfD, won a landslide in a regional election in Saxony-Anhalt. The result has given the party a strong chance of leading a state government for the first time in modern Germany, and the first since the Nazi era.Merz said the result was a severe blow for his centre-right Christian Democratic Union, but made clear that he would stay on course. He also sought to reassure Germany's allies that the country would stand by its values, constitution and support for Ukraine despite the AfD victory.Merz said the CDU was "deeply shocked" by what he called "the most serious election defeat that the CDU has had for years, for decades". But he added that "giving up is not an option for me". AfD, which is anti-migration and friendly towards Russia, finished just short of a majority in Sunday's vote in the eastern state. Its Saxony-Anhalt branch is among several that Germany's domestic intelligence agency classifies as a proven right-wing extremist group.The result comes at a difficult time for Germany and Europe, with the war in Ukraine continuing, suspected sabotage efforts targeting NATO countries, and strained dealings with US President Donald Trump. Merz said he wanted to assure Germany's partners that "our institutions are resilient and stable" and that Germany would stick to its values and constitution. "We know that Germany carries special responsibility because of its history," he said. He also said he would not "budge one millimetre from my fundamental conviction that we must defend our freedom against Russia now". Germany is one of Ukraine's biggest backers in the war with Russia. Because of Germany's Nazi past, far-right movements have long faced close scrutiny, and other major parties have refused to work with AfD under a so-called "firewall". Unlike several other European countries, modern Germany has not had a far-right or right-wing populist party lead a national, state or major-city government.Merz had promised to weaken AfD before taking office last year, but the party's support has instead grown. His coalition of the Union bloc and the centre-left Social Democrats has become known for infighting and has lost popularity, as has Merz. The government has also struggled to convince voters that it can revive Germany's weak economy through changes that could be painful, including pension reforms. Still, Merz said, "we need fundamental reforms in Germany". He said the issue concerned "nothing less than the future of our country and the opportunities of our children and grandchildren, and we must not squander those. That is why my determination to continue the reform course is unbroken." He also said the government needed to "justify them, not just rationally but also emotionally". Germany faces two more regional elections on September 20, in Berlin and Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, where AfD is also strong.While Merz tries to push through reforms, AfD now faces the challenge of turning its election win into power in Saxony-Anhalt. Its candidate for governor, Ulrich Siegmund, had sought an outright majority in the state legislature so the party could avoid relying on other parties that have shunned it. After the result, he said AfD still did not want to compromise, adding that "we don't want to become like the parties that were punished" by breaking pre-election promises. He also ruled out a minority government.At the same time, Siegmund said AfD had "a very clear mandate to form the government" and that it would approach other groups in the legislature and even individual lawmakers. "Our goal now is to build precisely this stable majority in the coming days and weeks," he said. AfD is three seats short of a majority. It could seek support from the hard-left BSW party, which won five seats. The two parties share a friendly line towards Russia and oppose immigration, though they differ on other issues. BSW has criticised the "firewall" against AfD and signalled on Monday that it could let Siegmund become governor by abstaining in a possible third round of voting in the state legislature, where a simple majority would be enough.Another possibility is that some newly elected lawmakers from other parties could switch sides, with AfD needing only three. A government that excludes AfD would be possible only if all the other parties in the legislature joined hands, but any such arrangement appears unlikely and would be vulnerable to instability.AfD's victory drew support from right-wing figures abroad. Elon Musk posted "Well done!" on X, and Siegmund quickly thanked him. Trump posted a screenshot of the election projection on Truth Social without comment. Russia's presidential envoy Kirill Dmitriev called it a "historic win for the pragmatic AfD that will put migration under control" and said, "AfD will restore Germany and Europe by leading the common-sense approach that migrant-friendly, warmongering Biden-think EU politicians tried to eradicate." Leaders of right-wing populist parties in Spain and Portugal also congratulated AfD.There was criticism as well. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk wrote on X, "In Poland, only idiots or traitors could rejoice the AfD triumph in Germany." French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said that "AfD's platform is a betrayal of the European spirit" and that "our first responsibility is to resist the normalization of far-right ideas." Among voters who did not back AfD, there was deep unease. Horst Walter Boerner, an 86-year-old from Magdeburg who was born during World War II, said, "It's terrible for us," and described the election as "fear-driven". He said the result had seemed likely because of the crowds AfD drew during the campaign, but added, "this should have never happened."The election has left Merz facing pressure at home even as he tries to push through reforms and maintain Germany's position on Russia and Ukraine. At the same time, AfD has emerged with a chance to convert a landmark regional win into governing power in Saxony-Anhalt.With PTI Inputs- EndsPublished By: India Today Web Desk Published On: Sep 7, 2026 20:02 IST