Sinkevičius says AfD victory will not change Lithuania-Germany ties

The Alternative for Germany’s victory in Saxony-Anhalt has caused concern in Lithuania, but Prime Minister Mindaugas Sinkevičius said it would not fundamentally change the relationship between the two countries.

“The results are worrying, but on the other hand, we all understand that these are free, democratic elections and the choice of the people of a specific German state,” Sinkevičius told reporters at the government headquarters on Monday.

He said Germany remained, and would remain, Lithuania’s most important strategic partner. “I am convinced that this will not fundamentally change our countries’ cooperation,” he said.

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The results are worrying, but on the other hand, we all understand that these are free, democratic elections and the choice of the people of a specific German state.

President Gitanas Nausėda said he was disappointed by the AfD’s success and warned that the rise of populist forces in parts of Germany was troubling. Even so, he said Lithuania expected Germany to keep its commitments to the country.

According to preliminary results, the AfD won Sunday’s election with 43.8% of the vote, ahead of the conservative Christian Democrats, who received 17.2%. The Left, Greens and Social Democrats each cleared the 5% threshold with about 9% of the vote. The populist Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance also entered the state parliament, while the pro-business Free Democrats received 2.6% and failed to win seats.

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I am convinced that this will not fundamentally change our countries’ cooperation. Germany remains and will remain Lithuania’s most important strategic partner.