The resounding victory of the far-right party Alternative for Germany (AfD) in the Saxony-Anhalt regional elections will not only have repercussions in Germany. It could also give wings to populist and far-right forces across Europe, encouraged by this phenomenon at the start of a turbulent course where key elections are expected in countries as important to the continent’s political landscape as France, Italy, and also Spain.
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“A huge night for Germany and Europe,” celebrated former Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán. “Get ready, this is just the beginning,” he warned. The president of Vox, Santiago Abascal, also did not hold back and congratulated leader Alice Weidel and the winning candidate in the German state, Ulrich Siegmund, for a “spectacular result that is a great hope for Germany and Europe.” In Portugal, the far-right André Ventura called the victory “historic” and believes that Germans “are opening their eyes against illegal and uncontrolled immigration, corruption, and the capture of our freedom and identity.”
The Italian far-right Vannacci considers this proves they are not “extremists”
The far-right rivals of Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni also rejoiced at the victory in the German state. Her government partner, the Lega’s Matteo Salvini, interprets it as “highlighting the strong demand for change, security, and jobs.” “In the face of those on the left who fueled fears and catastrophic scenarios. Fear? Terror? No, it’s called democracy. Another Europe is possible.” “And now keep calling us extremists,” challenged his great rival, General Roberto Vannacci. “If half the population supports the AfD, accusations of extremism, by definition, evaporate and disappear. Extremism is at the extremes; half cannot be extreme,” he continued, using one of his usual arguments to normalize the far right.
Italy is one of the countries expected to hold legislative elections in spring 2027. Meloni already governs there, but within the Italian right itself, this even more radical profile is emerging, which could cause problems for the leader of Brothers of Italy. In Spain, general elections are also expected before summer, with Vox on the rise with a result that could consolidate it as a necessary partner for the PP to govern. In France, in spring, the most closely watched elections in Europe will take place, with Jordan Bardella of the National Rally leading the polls for some time. Bardella and his group, who have distanced themselves from AfD, have remained silent.
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“In Poland, only idiots or traitors can rejoice at the AfD’s triumph in Germany,” warns Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk of the European People’s Party (EPP), also threatened in his country by the far-right Law and Justice party, which won the 2025 presidential elections.
In Brussels, as usual, no one has commented on the disturbing result in Saxony-Anhalt. But it is clear that these are not good news for the European Commission of the German Ursula von der Leyen nor for other relevant figures of the community right such as the EPP leader, Manfred Weber. The German conservative was already in trouble a few months ago after the leak of WhatsApp messages revealed close cooperation between members of his parliamentary group and AfD.
In Europe, Merz already supports migrant centers in third countries and lowering climate ambition
The repercussions could be enormous, also if this implies greater pressure on the CDU and other conservative parties to make even tougher decisions on migration or to lower their climate ambitions. Especially when Friedrich Merz’s Germany, although it has maintained the sanitary cordon in its country, already openly supports a hardline migration stance in Europe, for example, by favoring the creation of migrant deportation centers in third countries, and is also pushing to soften climate rules in favor of its struggling industry. And, in Brussels, although AfD is sidelined from the main far-right groups in the European Parliament for being too radical, the EPP has voted alongside the Patriots or the Conservatives and Reformists on key proposals this legislature, such as speeding up migrant returns.
The next test is in Sweden. This weekend, the far-right Sweden Democrats (SD), who already influence the government of the popular Ulf Kristersson without formally being part of it, are playing to maintain or expand their influence in the country.
