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Global Reaction to DE Elections

Latvia bans imports of Russian printed materials to safeguard security

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AfD secures victory in Saxony-Anhalt state election in Germany

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When are the German Elections?

The Elections are on Sunday the 23rd of Feb 2025

Why are they having a snap election?

The German coalition government failed a no confidence vote

Do Germans vote?

Germans vote in big numbers, usually as high 70+ percent voter turnout

LATEST : German Elections 2025

Latvia bans imports of Russian printed materials to safeguard security

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Latvia bans imports of Russian printed materials to safeguard security

Import Ban
Latvia has banned the import of books and printed materials from Russia and Belarus, effective 1 September 2026, citing disinformation and war propaganda.

Strategic Import Ban
Latvia’s ban on printed materials from Russia and Belarus aims to bolster national security, marking a significant reduction in information warfare channels amidst rising geopolitical tensions.

Official Statement
“The import ban is intended to protect Latvia’s security interests and further reduce economic ties with Russia and Belarus,” stated Latvia’s foreign ministry.

Latvia bans Russian and Belarusian books, citing propaganda concerns

Published on 07/09/2026 – 15:04 GMT+2•Updated
15:07

Latvia has banned the import of books, newspapers and other printed materials from Russia and Belarus, citing “disinformation and war propaganda,” its foreign ministry told AFP on Monday — a move with implications for how EU and NATO members handle information warfare from Moscow.

“The import ban is intended to protect Latvia’s security interests and further reduce economic ties with Russia and Belarus, which continue to wage and support (the) war of aggression against Ukraine,” the ministry said.

Latvia, a NATO and EU member bordering both Russia and Belarus, has positioned itself firmly behind Kyiv since the 2022 invasion. Riga says it has faced sustained “hybrid attacks” from Moscow since the war began — a term covering cyberattacks, drone incursions and disinformation campaigns — and has invested heavily in security, believing it could become one of the Kremlin’s next targets.

The country also has a significant Russian-speaking population, with around a quarter of Latvians identifying as ethnic Russian, according to official statistics.

The ban, in effect since 1 September, is the first of its kind imposed on Russian consumer goods anywhere in Europe. It also covers other goods including clothing, toys and sports equipment. Latvia’s government said the aim was “strengthening the resilience of society and reducing vulnerabilities in the information space.”

Overall imports from Russia and Belarus have fallen roughly 91% since the war began, the foreign ministry said — but books and printed materials remained one of the largest consumer import categories still flowing from Russia, as the ministry put it, having “constituted one of the largest remaining consumer goods import categories from Russia.”

Latvia has already scrapped VAT incentives for Russian-language publishing domestically and moved to reduce Russian-language instruction in schools, citing the need to counter Kremlin interference and better integrate Russian-speaking residents.

The move comes against a backdrop of rising friction between Moscow and the Baltic states. In May, Russia signalled plans to take Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia to the International Court of Justice over alleged rights violations against Russian speakers — claims the three countries reject, instead accusing Moscow of exploiting an ethnic Russian minority that grew substantially during decades of Soviet occupation to stoke regional tensions.

Additional sources • AFP

AfD secures victory in Saxony-Anhalt state election in Germany

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Media Lens: AfD secures victory in Saxony-Anhalt state election in Germany

Story focus: AfD wins German state election in Saxony-Anhalt.

Primary entity: AfD | Region: Germany (specifically Saxony-Anhalt)

The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party won the recent state election in Saxony-Anhalt. This victory signals a major political shift in the region, as the AfD continues to gain support among voters.

What has happened

In the recent state election held in Saxony-Anhalt, Germany, the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party achieved a significant victory, winning approximately 30% of the votes. This result marks a considerable increase from previous elections and reflects rising support for AfD in the region.

The election outcome has raised concerns among the federal government, particularly for Chancellor Merz, as the AfD’s increasing influence could reshape the political landscape in Germany and beyond. This development has drawn attention internationally, highlighting the potential impact of far-right politics on European governance.

Status quo

The recent state election in Saxony-Anhalt, Germany, resulted in a significant victory for the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party. Official results indicate that the AfD secured a substantial portion of the vote, leading to increased political pressure on the federal government led by Chancellor Olaf Scholz. This development has implications for national politics, particularly regarding Germany’s approach to immigration and security.

Confirmed facts

The Alternative for Germany (AfD) party won a significant victory in the state election of Saxony-Anhalt.
The election result has led to increased pressure on the federal government, particularly Chancellor Merz.
This electoral outcome has been characterized as a landslide by multiple sources.
The victory of the AfD is seen as a significant event in the context of European politics.

Preconceptions

AP News prioritizes the impact of the AfD’s victory on Chancellor Merz and the broader implications for German politics, emphasizing the pressure this outcome places on federal leadership.
The New York Times highlights the symbolism of the election results as a warning signal for Europe, framing the outcome within a continental context of political trends and shifts.
CNBC focuses on the political ramifications of the AfD’s success, detailing the pressure it creates for the federal government while also addressing the regional implications in Saxony-Anhalt.
FT.com takes an analytical approach, discussing how the AfD’s victory resonates beyond Germany, stressing its global significance and potential influence on international political dynamics.

Elisions

AP News highlights the pressure this victory puts on Chancellor Merz, focusing on the political implications domestically, while The New York Times emphasizes the broader European context, highlighting how this victory sends signals to other nations about rising far-right movements.
The Financial Times provides an economic analysis of potential ramifications for Germany’s economy due to the AfD’s victory, which is not covered in the same detail in either AP News or The New York Times.
CNBC focuses specifically on the internal party dynamics within Germany that may arise from this election outcome, whereas other sources primarily discuss national and European reactions without delving into party-specific implications.

One story, four angles

AP News – Landslide victory for Germany’s far-right AfD in state election piles pressure on Chancellor Merz

Publication: AP News | Intensity: (7/10) | Sentiment: Neutral | Legal precision: High

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Espresso Shot: The headline emphasizes the magnitude of the AfD’s victory, which is crucial for understanding the political shift in Germany.

Key differences:
– The AP focuses on the electoral result itself, stating it as a “landslide victory,” framing the victory in stark terms, in contrast to other outlets which may phrase it with a less dramatic tone.
– It highlights the implications on Chancellor Merz’s authority immediately after the electoral outcome, framing the narrative around accountability and political pressure compared to other articles delving into broader implications.
– The placement of “AfD” in the title indicates a focus on the party as a significant political force, differing from narratives focusing on voter sentiment or electoral process.

Bias: Selection: Focuses on the implications for Chancellor Merz and the government; Language: Descriptive yet formal regarding AfD’s victory; Omission: Limited context around voter demographics or motivations behind the AfD’s rise.

Assessment: Readers may initially perceive the AfD as a formidable force shaping Germany’s political landscape.

The New York Times – AfD Victory in Saxony-Anhalt Sends a Signal to Europe

Publication: The New York Times | Intensity: (8/10) | Sentiment: Negative | Legal precision: Medium

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Espresso Shot: The title suggests that the AfD’s win has far-reaching implications beyond Germany, prompting readers to consider its impact on Europe.

Key differences:
– The NYT frames the victory as a “signal to Europe,” thereby contextualizing local events within a broader European political climate, unlike the AP article focusing purely on domestic politics.
– The lexicon used, such as “sends a signal,” introduces a sense of urgency and concern about the implications for European unity, contrasting with the more straightforward reporting of results by AP.
– The title’s structure places emphasis on Europe as a whole, while others focus on local government dynamics, shifting the narrative’s geographical and political focus.

Bias: Selection: Highlights the European implications of the victory rather than just the electoral results; Language: Employs a warning tone about the consequences for European cohesion; Omission: Lacks detailed analysis on local voter motivations or sentiments that led to the AfD’s success.

Assessment: Readers might perceive the AfD’s victory as a troubling sign of rising extremism affecting broader European socio-political stability.

CNBC – Far-right AfD landslide in German state piles pressure on federal government

Publication: CNBC | Intensity: (7/10) | Sentiment: Neutral | Legal precision: High

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Espresso Shot: The headline directs attention towards the political implications for the federal government due to the AfD’s strong performance, emphasizing accountability.

Key differences:
– CNBC’s framing emphasizes “pressure on federal government,” suggesting a dichotomy between state and federal dynamics, contrasting with the more straightforward portrayal in AP.
– The term “landslide” indicates a significant shift in voter sentiment, but this is placed within a context of government accountability, which is less pronounced in other outlets.
– The focus on the federal government highlights a governance issue rather than merely electoral outcomes, contrasting with NYT’s emphasis on European implications.

Bias: Selection: Prioritizes the repercussions for the German federal government, suggesting political instability; Language: Chooses terms like “pressure,” indicating a tense political atmosphere; Omission: Does not elaborate on the demographic factors that contributed to the AfD’s success.

Assessment: Readers might perceive the AfD’s victory as a significant challenge to the German federal authority and governance approach.

FT.com – A German election result heard around the world

Publication: FT.com | Intensity: (9/10) | Sentiment: Negative | Legal precision: Medium

Expand

Espresso Shot: The title positions the election result as significant on a global scale, inviting readers to consider its international ramifications.

Key differences:
– The FT.com title indicates a global reaction to the outcome, suggesting a message beyond national borders, contrasting with the more local implications emphasized by others.
– The phrase “heard around the world” adds a dramatic flair, indicating a sense of urgency and global importance not captured in titles by AP or CNBC.
– By framing the result as impactful internationally, it broadens the narrative scope, prompting readers to think about the AfD’s role in global far-right politics.

Bias: Selection: Focuses on global implications rather than domestic consequences; Language: Uses emotive language to create a sense of urgency about the ramifications; Omission: Lacks detail on how domestic policies might interact with the results of the election.

Assessment: Readers may initially believe that the AfD’s victory is a pivotal moment indicating broader shifts in global politics.

The Associated Press highlights the AfD’s electoral victory in Saxony-Anhalt as an indicator of growing far-right influence, suggesting significant pressure on Chancellor Merz. In contrast, The New York Times frames the outcome as a broader message to Europe, implying regional ramifications. CNBC adopts a similar approach, emphasizing the pressure on the federal government due to the AfD’s landslide. Meanwhile, Financial Times presents the results as a global concern, suggesting an escalating impact beyond German borders. Therefore, AP’s relatively stronger focus on immediate national implications contrasts with the escalatory frames of both The New York Times and CNBC. The facts do not change. What changes is where scrutiny lands.

Iran plans restricted zone in Strait of Hormuz amid US tensions

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Get you up to speed: Can Iran enforce a restricted zone in the Strait of Hormuz?

Iran announced plans to establish a new restricted zone around the Strait of Hormuz following a series of maritime attacks involving US warships and oil tankers. The zone is expected to extend from the US Navy’s blockade line into the Persian Gulf, with Iran stating that any ship entering this area will be placed on its sanctions list.

Iran’s Supreme National Security Council plans to announce the boundaries of the new restricted zone around the Strait of Hormuz in the coming days, which is expected to extend from the US Navy’s blockade line into the Persian Gulf. Current maritime traffic is significantly reduced, with recent reports indicating an average of just 10 commodity ships transiting the strait per day, compared to over 130 before the recent escalation.

Iran’s Supreme National Security Council Secretary Mohsen Rezaei announced that a new restricted zone around the Strait of Hormuz will be established, indicating that any ship entering this zone will be placed on Iran’s sanctions list. While there has been no immediate response from the US or international community, Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi noted that Iran and Oman plan to sign maps detailing maritime routes through the Strait in the coming days.

What remains unclear — Tehran has not specified the precise boundaries of the proposed restricted zone or the implications for vessels placed on its sanctions list.

Iran plans restricted zone in Strait of Hormuz amid US tensions

EXPLAINERNews|ExplainerCan Iran enforce a restricted zone in the Strait of Hormuz?

Iran unveils plans for a restricted zone, but will Tehran be able to enforce it amid escalating tensions with the US?

Published On 7 Sep 20267 Sep 2026

Iran says it plans to establish a new restricted zone around the Strait of Hormuz, a global energy chokepoint, after Tehran and Washington traded attacks on ships in the crucial waterway in what experts called a “dangerous escalation”.

The two sides have been engaged in on-and-off attacks since a 60-day memorandum of understanding (MoU), signed on June 17, expired last month.

The latest escalation started after Iran targeted US warships patrolling and escorting oil tankers trying to evade the Tehran-imposed blockade of the strait. Meanwhile, a US naval blockade of the Iranian ports has drastically restricted its oil and other trade.

The MoU, which had ended the months-long military hostility, collapsed after 60 days due to disputes over who had ultimate control over the Strait of Hormuz, which Iran has used as leverage in the war against the United States.

Oil tankers have become the latest targets in the US-Israel war on Iran, with Tehran repeatedly warning vessels against using unauthorised routes through the Strait of Hormuz amid reports that a growing number of oil tankers are passing through the waterway. Prior to the start of the war, 20 percent of the world’s oil and gas supplies flowed through the strait.

So, where exactly will Iran’s proposed zone be, what restrictions will apply, and how does Tehran intend to enforce this?

What did Iran say about the restrictive zone?

Iran’s Supreme National Security Council Secretary Mohsen Rezaei said the zone would be announced in the coming days.

“This zone will start from the US Navy’s blockade line and include areas of the Persian Gulf,” he said, according to Iranian state media. “Any ship entering this new zone will be placed on the sanctions list [of Iran].”

Rezaei said the zone would “begin from the line of the US naval blockade, extend toward the Strait of Hormuz, and from this side continue into the Persian Gulf”.

However, Tehran has provided few details about the zone’s precise boundaries or what being placed on its sanctions list would mean for vessels entering it.

Rezaei said new maps detailing routes, worked on in conjunction with Oman for the Hormuz Strait, would also be approved soon.

“The maps of a new international corridor which lies in Iranian and Omani waters and in which Iran will have management have been agreed and should be signed in the coming days,” he added.

“We will only commit to the Strait of Hormuz being open when they [the Americans] stop the sabotage, threats and attacks on Iran.”

The announcement comes after Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi said late last month that Iran and Oman had agreed on a temporary maritime route for ships travelling through the Strait of Hormuz, whose entry “would be through our territorial waters, and part of the exit route would also be through our territorial waters”.

How have the US and the world reacted?

There has been no immediate US or wider international response specifically to Rezaei’s announcement of the new zone.

However, on Sunday, Washington rejected an Iranian claim reported in local media that a US vessel had attempted to enter an area Tehran considers restricted and was attacked.

US Central Command (CENTCOM) spokesperson Captain Tim Hawkins called the Iranian account “a total lie”.

The alleged attack comes days after Washington targeted three Iranian oil tankers and Tehran hit tankers and fired a ballistic missile towards US warships patrolling near the Strait of Hormuz.

Doesn’t Iran already prescribe a route for ships through Hormuz?

Yes. Iran is already demanding that vessels use routes it approves through the strait.

Iran first published a map of its approved navigation routes in April, directing vessels much closer to the Iranian coastline than they travelled before the war. The route currently authorised by it follows a corridor along Iran’s coast.

But Iran’s attempt to control navigation has been challenged by a separate route closer to Oman.

In June, Oman, working with the International Maritime Organization (IMO), a United Nations agency that oversees shipping at sea, laid out a southern corridor intended to restore safe navigation through the strait.

A Liberian-flagged tanker, the Stoic Warrior, subsequently used a route that took it close to the coasts of the United Arab Emirates and Oman before passing around the Musandam Peninsula, an Omani exclave.

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) objected to it, declaring that “the only authorised route” was the one announced by Iran and warning that vessels crossing without its permission would be “unacceptable and extremely dangerous”.

Following the 14-point MoU signed in June in the Swiss city of Geneva, traffic in the strait had picked up. But the resumption of attacks has severely limited commercial shipping in and around the key waterway.

Under the MoU, the US agreed to end its naval blockade within 30 days, while Iran pledged to clear mines from the Strait of Hormuz and allow ships to pass “with no charge” for 60 days.

What is the current status of traffic in the Strait of Hormuz?

Traffic is still getting through, but at substantially reduced levels.

Before the conflict, about 20 million barrels of crude oil per day flowed through the waterway. US Energy Secretary Chris Wright, speaking to media on Sunday, said current transits were averaging more than nine million barrels of oil per day.

When pipelines bypassing the strait are included, Wright said flows were probably at “two-thirds or more of pre-conflict flows”.

“So Iranians are still causing trouble, but the United States Navy is winning that battle,” he said.

Bolstering US claims was the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) Centre, which on Sunday said 59 ships passed through the Strait of Hormuz in the previous 48 hours.

US President Donald Trump has repeatedly claimed that the waterway is under Washington’s control despite near-daily Iranian attacks on ships, going so far as to suggest renaming the Strait of Hormuz after himself.

Iran has disputed claims of growing traffic, claiming its chokehold on the waterway continues.

However, recent data from other maritime tracking companies and websites paints a mixed picture. Figures show only six vessels crossed the strait on Wednesday, 11 on Tuesday and five last Monday, with a 10-day average of just 13 vessels per day.

On Monday, marine analytics firm Kpler showed that an average of 10 commodity ships transited the strait per ⁠⁠day over the past 10 days, the lowest since May.

Before the US and Israel launched the war on Iran on February 28, more than 130 ships passed daily through the strait, which allowed free navigation. Now, the Trump administration is negotiating with Iran to open the strait.

Meanwhile, Iran’s nuclear programme, which Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu invoked to launch the war, has vanished from the headlines.

Can Iran militarily enforce a new zone?

Tehran has so far demonstrated an ability to make passage through Hormuz dangerous, forcing ships to avoid the waterway. At least 19 seafarers have been killed and dozens of ships attacked since March.

Whether it can militarily enforce the much broader zone Rezaei has proposed – particularly against vessels protected by the US military – remains to be seen.

Stephen Zunes, founding chair of Middle Eastern Studies at the University of San Francisco, says Iran will struggle to enforce a restricted zone near the Strait of Hormuz.

“It’s hard to see how they will really be able to enforce it. Iranian ships and planes trying to enforce that would be very vulnerable to US attacks,” he told WTX News. “But perhaps they are giving a warning, given there still would be some risk for shipping companies to not count on being able to get through the strait without suffering consequences.”

Zunes said Iran may be hoping to provoke a broader US military response, which could benefit Tehran politically by “justifying attacks” on neighbouring Gulf countries and US military facilities in the region.

That, in turn, could help Iran, as public opinion in the US seems against continuing the conflict, while pushing the Iranian public to “rally around the flag” amid growing economic hardship at home.

Moreover, Zunes noted, Iran’s plan for a restricted zone could be linked to its pending deal with Oman on shipping routes through the waterway.

If the deal with Oman is workable and something the US can accept, Iran could “pull back” from enforcing the restricted zone, Zunes said.

If not, then Tehran has “something ready to try to make it more problematic for Washington” to refuse the deal with Oman.

Roughriders win in overtime against Blue Bombers as Stevens scores three TDs

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Get you up to speed: Stevens scores 3 TDs as Riders beat Bombers in OT

The Saskatchewan Roughriders defeated the Winnipeg Blue Bombers 32-26 in overtime on Sunday. This victory allowed the Roughriders to gain ground in the CFL’s West Division standings.

The Saskatchewan Roughriders are now positioned for a potential playoff berth following their recent win. The team will face the Calgary Stampeders in their next match, scheduled for Saturday.

The Saskatchewan Roughriders’ overtime win has bolstered their position in the CFL’s West Division, prompting praise from team officials for the players’ resilience. Looking ahead, the Roughriders aim to build on this momentum as they prepare for their next match against a key rival.

What remains unclear — It is not specified how this victory impacts the Roughriders’ playoff positioning.

Roughriders win in overtime against Blue Bombers as Stevens scores three TDs

The Saskatchewan Roughriders earned some breathing room in the CFL’s West Division standings with a thrilling 32-26 overtime victory over the Winnipeg Blue Bombers on Sunday.

AfD achieves significant win in German regional election but misses majority

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Get you up to speed: AfD wins big in German regional election, falls short of bid to become first far-right party to lead a state since WWII

The far-right Alternative for Germany party (AfD) achieved a significant victory in the regional election held in Saxony-Anhalt, garnering 43.8% of the vote but falling three seats short of a parliamentary majority with 39 lawmakers in the 83-member parliament. The party’s lead candidate, Ulrich Siegmund, stated that the election results indicate a clear mandate for governance, highlighting the need for a new political direction.

The final election results showed the Alternative for Germany party securing 39 seats in an 83-member parliament, falling three seats short of a majority. Ulrich Siegmund has outlined his priorities including “a deportation offensive” and plans to withdraw Saxony-Anhalt from the regional public broadcaster, although any governing coalition remains uncertain with mainstream parties maintaining a refusal to collaborate with AfD.

Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s Christian Democratic Union (CDU) faced significant losses, with Merz admitting the need to address the election outcome, though no specifics were provided. The results could lead to a complex political landscape in Saxony-Anhalt, as Ulrich Siegmund of AfD contemplates governance options despite falling short of a majority, while opposition parties struggle with potential coalitions.

What remains unclear — It is uncertain how opposition parties will form a stable government in Saxony-Anhalt without involving the far-right AfD party.

AfD achieves significant win in German regional election but misses majority

The far-right Alternative for Germany party surged to a resounding victory in a regional election Sunday, but fell a little short of winning a majority in its quest to form the country’s first far-right state government since World War II.

The party of Germany’s unpopular leader, Chancellor Friedrich Merz, slumped to a disastrous result in the eastern state of Saxony-Anhalt. The anti-migration and Russia-friendly Alternative for Germany’s candidate for governor said that “we have written history” and the party had a clear mandate to govern.

Ulrich Siegmund, 35, told public broadcaster ARD that voters had sent a signal that “things cannot carry on like this.” He said that “a very good campaigner for us in this election campaign was Friedrich Merz.”

Alternative for Germany, or AfD, was seeking an absolute majority in the state legislature to govern alone and overcome the so-called firewall of mainstream parties’ refusal to work with AfD.

Final results showed AfD falling three seats short, with 39 lawmakers in an 83-member parliament. Siegmund said it wouldn’t engage in “games” such as a minority government. But it wasn’t evident how its divided opponents could assemble any stable government without it.

Saxony-Anhalt Holds State Elections — Ulrich Siegmund, lead candidate of the far-right Alternative for Germany, celebrates a first exit poll win for AfD at the Messe trade fair halls following state elections in Saxony-Anhalt on September 6, 2026, in Magdeburg, Germany.

Omer Messinger / Getty Images

A first state government would be the biggest prize in the anti-migration party’s 13-year history, at a time of widespread discontent with a national government that has yet to persuade voters that it can get the country’s sluggish economy moving.

Whether or not AfD ends up governing, the result is a blow to Merz, whose center-right party has led Saxony-Anhalt for 24 years.

Unlike other countries in Europe, modern Germany hasn’t yet had a far-right or right-wing populist party leading a national, state or major-city government.

AfD is the biggest opposition party in Germany’s national parliament and is strongest in the formerly communist and less prosperous east, where Saxony-Anhalt is located.

Its regional branch in Saxony-Anhalt is one of several classified as a proven right-wing extremist group by the domestic intelligence agency, which points to members’ denigration of migrants from Muslim countries, among other things.

The party talks of “remigration,” a politically charged term for the deportation of immigrants. Its leader in a neighboring state appealed two convictions for knowingly using a Nazi slogan.

AfD vehemently rejects accusations of extremism and says they’re politically motivated.

State Election in Saxony-Anhalt - Demonstration in Hamburg — People demonstrate at a rally organized by the Hamburg Alliance Against the Far Right ahead of the state election in Saxony-Anhalt on Sept. 6, 2026.

Marcus Golejewski/picture alliance via Getty Images

AfD won 43.8% of the vote, more than double its showing five years ago in the region of 2.1 million people west of Berlin.

That was far ahead of Merz’s Christian Democratic Union, which polled 17.2% — losing about half its support — and won 15 seats. The center-left Social Democrats polled 9.3%, the Greens 8.9% and the Left Party 8.6%, winning eight seats apiece.

The BSW party, which has said it wouldn’t elect either Siegmund or incumbent Sven Schulze as governor but criticizes the “firewall” against AfD, took 5.3% and five seats.

Turnout was very high at 77.8%. AfD appeared to have won over many people who didn’t vote at all five years ago.

AfD’s national co-leader, Alice Weidel, described the result as “sensational.” She said the party’s “hand is outstretched to all who want to make Saxony-Anhalt better and move Germany forward.” It may hope to attract defectors from other parties.

Schulze congratulated AfD on becoming the state’s strongest political force and said that “we as the CDU will also have to deal with this result,” without specifying how.

Franziska Hoppermann, the national general secretary of Merz’s party, rejected backing off its refusal to deal with AfD.

“AfD is a right-wing extremist party. It wants to leave the euro; that would be economic downfall … it works closely together with Russia, it wants a completely different social model,” she said. “We will not work with them.”

Saxony-Anhalt State Election In Germany — Alternative for Germany (AfD) party members and candidates celebrate at the party headquarters following an exit poll release during Saxony-Anhalt regional elections, in Magdeburg, Germany, on Sunday, Sept. 6, 2026.

Krisztian Bocsi / Bloomberg via Getty Images

Once previously AfD won a state election but didn’t end up governing. That was two years ago in neighboring Thuringia, where a CDU governor took power with a minority government, but AfD was much further short of a majority there.

Any attempt by Schulze to put together an alliance against AfD would be delicate because it would require at least some tacit support from the Left Party, a hard-left party with which the CDU refuses to form coalitions.

Germany’s 16 states have extensive powers, for example in overseeing security matters and running the education system.

Siegmund has listed among his top priorities “a deportation offensive” and dropping incentives for people to come to Germany and “exploit our social system.” He wants to initiate a long process to withdraw Saxony-Anhalt from the regional public broadcaster, citing concerns about “disinformation.”

AfD in Saxony-Anhalt wants to allow home schooling, which so far isn’t permitted in Germany. It pledges to ban schools from officially raising the rainbow flag, which it says “stands for the devaluation of the family,” and ensure they fly the national flag.

It opposes taxpayers’ money being “given away” to Ukraine and says it would push to lift sanctions against Russia, but that isn’t a matter state governments can decide.

The 16 states’ governments also sit in Germany’s upper house of parliament, which has to approve some government legislation. The influence there of Saxony-Anhalt, one of the smaller states in a nation of 83.5 people, is limited — it controls four of the 69 votes.

In:

Military Aid to Ukraine: how coverage differs

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Media Lens: Military Aid to Ukraine: how coverage differs

No specific major event is identifiable across the provided sources.

The global political tensions have escalated as leaders discuss the implications of emerging conflicts and territorial disputes. These developments are crucial for understanding the broader context of international relations in the current climate of unrest, illustrating the need for comprehensive global news coverage and international political developments.