New Delhi: Former German Chancellor Angela Merkel is “heartbroken” after a far-Right party made major victories in the east, but fell short of a majority, in recently concluded regional elections.
Alternative for Germany (AfD) performed its historic best after securing 42.8 per cent of the vote in the state of Saxony-Anhalt. The party won 39 out of 83 seats.
“It is simply shocking. At least, that’s how it felt to me,” said Merkel at a trade fair in Cologne Tuesday.
‘We have made history today’
AfD was formed in 2013 primarily in opposition to the European Union’s handling of the Eurozone debt crisis and Germany’s bailout policies for struggling euro area member states. During the refugee crisis of 2015, AfD adopted an anti-immigration and anti-Muslim stance.
The party’s electoral presence grew steadily, and it eventually made it to the federal parliament in 2017.
Over the years, Germans frustrated with economic stagnation and weak infrastructure have turned to the AfD as an alternative to established parties.
“We are experiencing a turning point in the history of the Federal Republic of Germany,” Merkel said, who left office in 2021 after serving for 16 years.
However, the AfD has fallen short of three votes and is seeking lawmakers to form a government. If that happens, Saxony-Anhalt will be the first German state to be ruled by a far-Right political party since the Nazi Party and World War Two. Governing at the state level would give the AfD powers over policing, local education, and culture.
On Tuesday, many took to the streets to protest against the AfD. There is a growing fear among German citizens regarding what the rise of the far-Right could mean.
While Merkel is emotional about the election, AfD has been celebrating.
“We have made history today,” said a jubilant Ulrich Siegmund, the 35-year-old lead candidate of AfD.
(Edited by Prasanna Bachchhav)
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