Germany’s Merz vows to fight ‘extremism’ after AfD, far-left election gains

What the report says

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has responded to recent election setbacks by warning about what he described as political extremism in Germany. According to Al Jazeera’s report, he made the remarks in Berlin on Wednesday after the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) and the far-left Left Party posted gains in separate local contests.

The article says the AfD made a strong showing in a September 6 election in Saxony-Anhalt, where candidate Ulrich Siegmund won the vote for a senior state post but fell short of the absolute majority needed to secure it. Merz argued that support for the AfD damages public trust and said such politics is incompatible with the values of his Christian Democratic Union. Al Jazeera also notes that the party, founded in 2013, rose by opposing immigration and has become especially influential in eastern Germany.

The piece also highlights the Left Party’s win in Berlin on September 20, where lead candidate Elif Eralp campaigned on housing costs and pledged to pursue nationalization of private housing associations if backed by the law and the city’s earlier referendum. Al Jazeera reports that the result could put her on course to become Berlin’s first mayor from the party, which traces its roots to East Germany’s former ruling communist party.

The report places the developments against a difficult backdrop for Merz, whose approval rating has fallen sharply. It says the next major test will come in North Rhine-Westphalia in April, underscoring the pressure on Germany’s mainstream parties as voters turn toward the political fringes.