Germany’s Merz vows to fight ‘extremism’ after AfD, far-left election gains
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has vowed to fight "extremism" following recent local election defeats to far-right and far-left parties.
The story so far
- Oct 6
- Oct 7
How outlets cover it
3 outletsNot rated on the left–right scale. It describes Western party politics and doesn’t fit state media or outlets outside that system, so we show ownership and country instead.
Open questions and key claims
Tobias Rausch stated, 'The days of political firewalls should be a thing of the past.'
Regional Greens party leader Susan Sziborra-Seidlitz stated, 'a line has been crossed' with the election.
BSW founder Sahra Wagenknecht declared it was time to do away with 'firewall idiocy'.
Friedrich Merz called the gains by far-right and far-left parties 'extremism'.
Merz stated that voting for the AfD is 'playing the extremists’ game and undermining credibility'.
The AfD is classified as 'rightwing extremist' by the eastern state’s intelligence agency.
The AfD is classified as 'right-wing extremist' by domestic intelligence in Saxony-Anhalt.
Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) has become Germany’s first far-right party to secure the position of speaker of a regional parliament since WWII.
Who and where
Related stories over time
same people and places- Jul 3 – Jul 4 earlier
- Sep 4 – Sep 10 earlierFar-right AfD party won big in Saxony-Anhalt. Will it affect Germany’s approach to China?21 articles · 6 outlets
- Sep 16 – Sep 24 earlierElif Eralp: ‘Germany’s Zohran Mamdani’ who vows to be a mayor for all Berliners15 articles · 4 outlets
- Oct 6 – Oct 7◆ This story