The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) is aiming to win at least 40% in the next federal election after a historic win in the eastern state of Saxony-Anhalt, said national co-leader Alice Weidel on Monday.
“My stated goal is to significantly widen the gap in a very short time and grow to at least 40% for the next federal election,” said Weidel.
The AfD surged into first place in the Saxony-Anhalt state elections on Sunday, putting a far-right party on the cusp of power at the state level for the first time since World War II.
AfD’s success highlights unpopularity of Merz’s conservatives
While short of an overall majority, the AfD won 44% of the vote and delivered a drubbing to Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s conservatives, reflecting the deep unpopularity of Germany’s ruling coalition in a fracturing political landscape.
The AfD is already Germany’s most popular party at the national level and is seeking to secure a foothold for advancing its agenda, which includes heavy restrictions on immigration, restoring ties with Russia, cutting support to Ukraine and quitting the euro.
As counting continued, it remained unclear whether the AfD could form a government, but the wider political significance was clear for the election, which, according to broadcaster ZDF, drew a heavy turnout of 77%.
