Saxony-Anhalt election: Moscow hails AfD's historic victory as German parties enter crisis talks

Ulrich Siegmund, the AfD's leading candidate in Saxony-Anhalt, said the party would extend its hand to potential partners rather than shut the door on government talks. “As the AfD, we remain true to ourselves, and I remain true to myself. I am also realistic, and I am not slamming the door in anyone's face or building walls,” he told reporters in Berlin.

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As the AfD, we remain true to ourselves, and I remain true to myself. I am also realistic, and I am not slamming the door in anyone's face or building walls.

Siegmund said he wanted to know which parties were willing to work with the AfD to tackle what he called the fundamental problems of the time. He described the election as historic not only for Saxony-Anhalt, but also for Germany, arguing that its message should reach Berlin's political establishment.

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The CDU has been shaken to its foundations.

The result triggered crisis meetings among the CDU and SPD leadership in Berlin. German media described the day as painful for Chancellor Friedrich Merz, whose CDU was portrayed as the main loser. Merz later said, “The CDU has been shaken to its foundations.”

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Merz is a burden for Germany.

AfD co-leader Alice Weidel said the CDU had suffered a debacle and claimed voters had lost confidence in Merz. “Merz is a burden for Germany,” she said, arguing that no previous chancellor had been as unpopular. Elon Musk congratulated the AfD with the words “Well done!”, while Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban said the result was “only the beginning.” Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez called the advance of the far right a reason his government was more necessary than ever. Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani described the result as worrying but stressed that it was a regional vote and that Italy was different.

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Well done!