Far-right AfD wins historic victory in German state election

The result deepens pressure on Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s coalition, as the far-right party’s record state-level gains raise the prospect of its first path to power since the Nazi era.

The Alternative for Germany (AfD) surged into first place in state elections in Saxony-Anhalt on Sunday, exit polls showed, putting a far-right party within reach of power at the state level for the first time since World War Two.