France worried by victory of far-right's AfD in German state election - Reuters

**France warns of fallout from AfD’s surge in Saxony‑Anhalt**

*Berlin –* Preliminary results from the March 17 state election in Saxony‑Anhalt show the far‑right Alternative for Germany (AfD) emerging as the clear front‑runner, capturing roughly **27 % of the vote** – its strongest performance anywhere in Germany to date. The party outpaced the centre‑right Christian Democratic Union (CDU), which fell to about 22 %, and forced the incumbent Social Democratic Party (SPD) into third place. The AfD’s victory, hailed by co‑leader Tino Chrupalla as a “historic breakthrough,” gives the party a decisive foothold in the state parliament and positions it to influence coalition talks for the first time at a state level.

French officials reacted swiftly. A spokesperson for the French foreign ministry told Reuters that the result “raises serious concerns about the stability of the democratic fabric in our neighboring country and, by extension, the cohesion of the European Union.” President Emmanuel Macron, speaking at a press briefing the same day, warned that a surge in extremist forces in Germany could “undermine the shared values that bind our nations together” and urged Berlin to keep the “rule of law and respect for European integration at the forefront of any post‑election coalition.” The French government has called for close monitoring of the AfD’s policy agenda, particularly on migration, defense spending, and EU fiscal rules.

Analysts see the outcome as a test of Germany’s post‑war political consensus. While the AfD still lacks the numbers to govern outright, its strong showing forces mainstream parties to confront a right‑wing surge that could reshape policy debates on security, energy, and foreign affairs. In Brussels, officials fear the win may embolden other nationalist movements across the bloc, complicating coordination on issues such as NATO commitments and the EU’s climate targets. For France, the development sharpens a longstanding strategic rivalry with Germany, prompting Paris to reinforce diplomatic outreach aimed at preserving a centrist, pro‑European trajectory in Berlin’s future governments.

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