AfD's Saxony-Anhalt Victory Fuels Fears of a Return to National Sovereignty in Europe
The AfD captured 43.8% of the vote in Saxony-Anhalt, a result that has alarmed EU leaders and signaled a growing appetite for nationalist policies across the bloc.
The far-right AfD achieved a stunning 43.8% vote share in Saxony-Anhalt on September 6, winning 39 of the 83 seats in the Magdeburg Landtag and leaving the traditional CDU at a historic low of 17.2%. By rejecting the EU’s open-border, Ukraine-aid, and migration policies, the AfD has sparked anxiety in Brussels about a wave of sovereignty-focused populism. Parallel trends are emerging in France, where polls suggest a 2027 presidential runoff between Marine Le Pen and Jean-Luc Mélenchon, both of whom campaign on reclaiming national control of finances and policy.
German leader Friedrich Merz, speaking alongside European Council President António Costa, demanded cuts of “several hundred billion euros” from the EU’s €2 trillion budget, citing domestic pension and energy-cost pressures. The article argues that the AfD’s rise reflects a class-based backlash against elite-driven EU projects, with voters demanding that their taxes fund national welfare rather than distant Brussels initiatives.
Why it matters
The election shows growing nationalist sentiment that could reshape EU politics and fiscal priorities.
How this story developed
- Sep 10 CDU plummets in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern poll, threatens loss of parliamentary seats
- Sep 11 AfD top candidate Ulrich Siegmund said weapons from a potential Elbit Systems plant could support upcoming deportation efforts, sparking criticism.
- Sep 11 A new poll confirms the AfD’s continued lead while the CDU’s support keeps slipping.
- Sep 12 BSW chairman Fabio de Masi publicly denounced Siegmund's remarks.
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