AfD surge in Saxony-Anhalt sparks debate over right-wing influence across Europe

Alice Weidel, the AfD’s chief, shares a registered partnership with Sarah Bossard and together they raise two teenage sons. Under Weidel’s leadership, the party has become notorious for its harsh anti-immigration messaging. Its recent electoral breakthrough in Saxony-Anhalt, a former East German state, has unsettled not only German but also broader European political landscapes.

Analysts link the surge to Germany’s weakening industrial competitiveness, especially in the automotive sector, and to rising social tensions over immigration and climate policy. The party’s internal history includes former neo-Nazi figures and a controversial openness toward Russia’s leadership. While opponents argue for stronger barriers or even a ban on the AfD, some suggest that integrating right-wing parties into democratic processes, as seen in Scandinavia, may be a more effective containment strategy.