As Merz struggles, Germany's far-right AfD goes local to woo voters
The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party is gaining support ahead of the Saxony-Anhalt state election, with candidate Ulrich Siegmund leading in polls. As Chancellor Friedrich Merz's approval ratings decline, Siegmund aims to become the first AfD state premier. The party's rise reflects broader trends across Europe, where mainstream parties are losing ground to far-right movements.
- ▪Ulrich Siegmund is the top candidate for the AfD in the upcoming Saxony-Anhalt state election.
- ▪Recent polls show the AfD at 29% support, significantly ahead of Merz's conservatives.
- ▪Siegmund believes the party's message resonates with voters seeking change amid economic uncertainty.
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As Merz struggles, Germany's far-right AfD goes local to woo votersSign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inboxUlrich Siegmund, top candidate of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party in Germany's Saxony-Anhalt state election, speaks at a party convention in Magdeburg, Germany, April 11, 2026. REUTERS/Christian MangPublished May 20, 2026, 04:04 PMUpdated May 20, 2026, 04:04 PMHALBERSTADT, Germany, May 20 - As German Chancellor Friedrich Merz struggles to halt a relentless slide in approval ratings, Ulrich Siegmund, from the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD), is on a roll.Buoyed by polls putting his party up to 7 points ahead of Merz's conservatives nationwide, the 35-year-old expects to become Germany's first AfD state premier when the eastern region of…
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