Germany’s Merz vows to fight ‘extremism’ after AfD, far-left election gains
News Source
•Wed, 07 Oct 2026 16:12:29 +0000
📰 What Happened
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has spoken out against political extremism after recent election losses. He spoke a day after an AfD member became president of the state parliament in Saxony-Anhalt. The Left Party also did well in Berlin's state election last month. Merz said voting for the AfD means helping extremists.
🔍 The Backstory
The AfD is a far-right party founded in 2013. It began as a group against the euro and later focused on hard opposition to immigration. Its support has grown, especially in eastern Germany. Mainstream parties have long refused to work with it, but its rise is changing German politics. Other European countries have seen similar shifts.
🎯 Why It Matters
The rise of extreme parties can divide communities and change the laws people live under. German voters now face big choices about their country's future.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has spoken out against political extremism after recent election losses. He spoke a day after an AfD member became president of the state parliament in Saxony-Anhalt. The Left Party also did well in Berlin's state election last month. Merz said voting for the AfD means helping extremists.
The AfD is a far-right party founded in 2013. It began as a group against the euro and later focused on hard opposition to immigration. Its support has grown, especially in eastern Germany. Mainstream parties have long refused to work with it, but its rise is changing German politics. Other European countries have seen similar shifts.
The rise of extreme parties can divide communities and change the laws people live under. German voters now face big choices about their country's future.