Friedrich Merz’s future uncertain after AfD’s historic triumph

The far-right Alternative for Germany is already looking beyond its major election success in Saxony-Anhalt, toward the conquest of Germany as a whole. But before it can pursue that ambition, the party must solve a more immediate problem: forming a government in the small eastern state.

That will require finding at least several lawmakers from other parties willing to support it. The need for outside backing underscores the uncertainty created by the result and raises questions about what it means for Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s federal government.

The article, reported from Magdeburg, focuses on the political consequences of the AfD’s triumph. Just before the election, Merz gave an interview to two newspapers published in Saxony-Anhalt. The report was published on September 7, 2026, one day after a photograph captioned the chancellor in the aftermath of the AfD victory.