Overview
- The Alternative for Germany won about 43.8–44% in the Saxony‑Anhalt state vote on Sept. 6 while the CDU fell to roughly 17.2%, leaving the AfD three seats short of an outright majority.
- National polls now put the AfD well ahead of the CDU and party infighting has intensified as Chancellor Merz called an executive committee meeting for Sunday and cancelled a planned New York trip to secure backing.
- AfD leaders campaign to end military aid to Ukraine, lift sanctions on Russia and restore energy ties with Moscow, a platform that challenges Germany’s post‑2022 security and energy strategy.
- Muslim community groups report rising anti‑Muslim incidents and increased administrative scrutiny of Muslim organisations, a development critics link to tougher migration rhetoric from mainstream parties.
- Two state votes this weekend in Mecklenburg‑Western Pomerania and Berlin are seen as critical tests that could further strain the CDU, reshape coalition math and force mainstream parties to decide how to respond to AfD momentum.