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World reacts to AfD victory in eastern German state election

From Al Jazeera · () English

Translated from English and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

News Named sources Outcome reported
  • The far-right Alternative for Germany won the regional election in Saxony-Anhalt, according to preliminary results, and is expected to hold 39 of the state parliament’s 42 seats needed for a majority.
  • French officials and Poland’s foreign minister warned that the result signaled a growing nationalist and xenophobic challenge in Europe.
  • Leaders and figures from Europe’s far right, as well as Elon Musk, Viktor Orban and Richard Grenell, welcomed the AfD’s result.

The Alternative for Germany has won Saxony-Anhalt’s regional election, stopping just short of the majority that would have given the far-right party full control of the state parliament in Magdeburg. Preliminary results indicate that the AfD will take 39 seats, three fewer than the 42 required for a majority.

The result prompted sharply different reactions. France’s European Affairs Minister Benjamin Haddad called it “a very grave moment for Europe” and warned that “nationalism and xenophobia will never be the answer”. He added: “We cannot forget our history.”

a very grave moment for Europe

· Benjamin HaddadFrance’s European Affairs Minister described the AfD’s election result.

Another French official, Lescure, told RTL radio that the victory sent “a very, very worrying signal” to Europe. He described a “major challenge in the face of a populist wave” that he said was “spreading around the world today”, adding that “we must resist [it]”.

nationalism and xenophobia will never be the answer

· Benjamin HaddadHaddad warned against the political forces he associated with the result.

Poland’s Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski also focused on the narrow gap separating the AfD from a majority. “It seems they’re just a few votes short of an absolute majority, but this is indeed a very worrying sign,” he told Radio Vox FM.

Far-right leaders celebrated the result. Spain’s Vox leader Santiago Abascal congratulated AfD co-leader Alice Weidel and Saxony-Anhalt lead candidate Ulrich Siegmund on what he called a “spectacular result” and “great hope for Germany and Europe”. Portugal’s Chega leader Andre Ventura described it as an “historic victory”, linking the result to concerns about “illegal and uncontrolled immigration, corruption and the appropriation of our freedom and identity”.

a very, very worrying signal

· LescureThe French official told RTL radio that the AfD victory sent a warning to Europe.

Elon Musk wrote “Gut gemacht!”, or “well done”, on X. Siegmund thanked him for his “support” and “clear and highly important perspective” on current political developments. Former Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban called it “a huge night for Germany and Europe” and said, “this is just the beginning”. Former US Ambassador to Germany Richard Grenell called the result “a huge win and a new day for Germany”, while Russian Direct Investment Fund chief Kirill Dmitriev described Siegmund as the “voice of reason”.

this is just the beginning

· Viktor OrbanThe former Hungarian prime minister celebrated the result as a major night for Germany and Europe.
About this summary

Originally published by Al Jazeera in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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