Polish Foreign Minister Expresses Concern Over AfD’s Electoral Victory in Germany’s Saxony-Anhalt State Election

The Alternative for Germany (AfD) party achieved a significant victory in the Saxony-Anhalt state elections on Sunday, securing 44% of the vote, which has raised concerns among Polish officials and international observers. While the far-right party fell short of an absolute majority, its success marks a notable political shift in Germany’s eastern states, historically shaped by post-reunification dynamics.

Poland’s Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski cautioned that the AfD’s gains are “a very worrying sign,” emphasizing that while the party did not secure an outright majority, its prospects for forming a government—potentially the first far-right administration in a German state since World War II—remain alarming. The results underscore growing political polarization in Germany, particularly in regions with historical sensitivities to immigration policies.

The defeat dealt a severe blow to Germany’s Center-Right Christian Democratic Union (CDU), which secured only 18% of the vote in the eastern state. CDU state premier Sven Schulze acknowledged internal party challenges, citing “headwinds” from national government policies and a failure to counter rising anti-immigration sentiment effectively.

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán and former Chancellor Victor Orbán publicly congratulated the AfD on its “landslide victory,” with Orbán praising the party’s outreach to “disillusioned voters.” The endorsements have intensified scrutiny over transnational far-right alliances in Europe.

French Finance Minister Roland Lescure echoed concerns, warning that the AfD’s success signals a “major challenge” from a global populist wave that governments must resist. Business leaders in Germany have reportedly expressed anxiety over the political climate, fearing instability and policy unpredictability.

The outcome has placed Chancellor Friedrich Merz under pressure to reassess domestic strategies as the CDU grapples with its diminished role in eastern Germany. Critics argue that the party’s struggles reflect a broader failure to address voter discontent with economic inequality and cultural shifts.

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