Coverage dated September 3, 2026 to September 10, 2026

Historic far-right victory deepens German political crisis

Headline from Courthouse News Service, on the newest of 4 developments

A dominant showing in state elections has the German far right on the cusp of governing for the first time since World War II.

Courthouse News Service's own description from its feed. We collect headlines and these descriptions, not full articles; read the original reporting below.

Developments in this update

4 dated developments, oldest first, newest marked. Each is named by one outlet's own headline; open its reports to see every outlet that covered it.

  1. German region votes in election that could bring first far-right state governor to power

    Headline from WTOP Washington DC ·

  2. AfD wins big in German regional election, falls short of outright majority

    Headline from CBS News ·

  3. Charismatic candidate propels German far-right party to victory after giving it a friendly face

    Headline from WTOP Washington DC ·

  4. Newest

    Historic far-right victory deepens German political crisis

    Headline from Courthouse News Service ·

7 reports not tied to one development ·

Reports & sources

174 articles, oldest first.

  1. Bloomberg

    AfD’s Strength in Saxony-Anhalt Shows Rise of German Far Right (opens Bloomberg)

    Published

    Bloomberg's feed description

    In elections on Sunday, the ethnonationalist party is poised to win a majority of seats in the Saxony-Anhalt parliament.

  2. Washington Examiner

    To block the Right, Germany’s establishment is teaming up with ex-communists (opens Washington Examiner)

    Published

    Washington Examiner's feed description

    If the final polls are close to correct, Saxony-Anhalt will produce a startling result on Sunday. The Alternative for Germany, or AfD, could win 42% of the vote. That’s nearly twice the 22% projected for Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s Christian Democratic Union, yet the CDU’s Sven Schulze could remain …

  3. The Guardian

    ‘This could just be the beginning’: minorities fear first far-right win in German state election (opens The Guardian)

    Published

    The Guardian's feed description

    As polls point to victory in Saxony-Anhalt for AfD party promising deportations, people face agonising choice: stay or go As the Bible study session wrapped up, leaving worshippers to mingle over cake and coffee, Fatemeh, 44, fought back tears as the conversation turned to Sunday’s state election in…

  4. Bloomberg

    Germany’s Far Right Stirs Business Fears Ahead of State Election (opens Bloomberg)

    Published

    Bloomberg's feed description

    The nationalist Alternative for Germany is pushing back on a growing chorus warning that its policies would hit businesses if the far-right party secures control of a state government for the first time since World War II.

  5. Bloomberg

    Germany's AfD Stirs Fears Ahead of Saxony-Anhalt Election (opens Bloomberg)

    Published

    Bloomberg's feed description

    Nationalist party Alternative for Germany (AfD) is leading polls ahead of Sunday's election in Saxony-Anhalt. The AfD is pushing back on a growing chorus from centrist politicians, think tanks and industry leaders warning of the negative consequences of the far-right party's proposals.

  6. France 24

    German far-right's breakout moment? AfD party eyes outright win in regional election (opens France 24)

    Published

    France 24's feed description

    Could Europeans awaken next Monday to another shock bellwether moment? German voters could for the first time since World War Two give an outright majority to a far-right party in regional elections. We’ll ask about the A-f-D’s push in Saxony-Anhalt and a charismatic lead candidate whose campaign st…

  7. WFMZ Allentown

    Looming far-right win in Germany sparks security worries (opens WFMZ Allentown)

    Published

    WFMZ Allentown's feed description

    If the AfD wins key regional elections on Sunday and becomes the first far-right party in post-war Germany to form a state government, experts fear far-reaching consequences for security and defence.

  8. Bloomberg

    Germany’s AfD: What If Far-Right Group Wins Power in Saxony-Anhalt State? (opens Bloomberg)

    Published

    Bloomberg's feed description

    When Elon Musk posted on X in 2024 that the only thing that could “save Germany” was the AfD, he was embracing a political force that has moved steadily to the far right since it was founded in 2013.

  9. KBRW

    Germany’s far-right poised for power in state election (opens KBRW)

    Published

    KBRW's feed description

    Germany’s AfD’s TikTok-fueled rise in Saxony-Anhalt is raising fears the country could see its first far-right governor since World War II.

  10. Semafor

    German far-right set for gains in key elections (opens Semafor)

    Published

    Semafor's feed description

    Recent polling published by Die Zeit showed, however, that the party will fall short of winning an absolute majority.

  11. Al Jazeera

    Germany’s far right AfD eyes election breakthrough in Saxony-Anhalt (opens Al Jazeera)

    Published

    Al Jazeera's feed description

    The nationalist party that promises to strip back asylum rights is poised to win a state election for the first time.

  12. France 24

    Germany: Hans-Thomas Tillschneider, the ideologist behind the AFD’s plans in Saxony-Anhalt (opens France 24)

    Published

    France 24's feed description

    The far-right German political party Alternative for Germany could win a historical victory in the eastern state of Saxony-Anhalt in key elections this Sunday. The party’s agenda is more radical than ever and inspired by the proposals of an influential ideologist in the region: Hans-Thomas Tillschne…

  13. CBS News

    Is a far-right party on the precipice of power in a German state? (opens CBS News)

    Published

    CBS News's feed description

    AfD Saxony-Anhalt is a racist extremist group, according to the German state's intelligence agency. The party may well trounce its rivals in this weekend's state election.

  14. BBC News

    Germany's far-right AfD bids for first taste of power in eastern vote (opens BBC News)

    Published

    BBC News's feed description

    If it wins an outright majority in Saxony-Anhalt, it would be the first time a far-right party has held state-level power in Germany since World War Two.

  15. KRDO

    Germany’s far-right AfD is poised for power – and split on whether to cozy up to Trump (opens KRDO)

    Published

    KRDO's feed description

    By Lauren Kent, Sebastian Shukla, CNN (CNN) — The Alternative for Germany (AfD) party is speeding into state elections in Saxony-Anhalt on Sunday with a sizeable lead in the polls. If the party gets an outright majority, it will put the far right in charge of a state for the first time since World W…

  16. The Guardian

    All eyes on Saxony-Anhalt – what will AfD do if it wins German state poll? (opens The Guardian)

    Published

    The Guardian's feed description

    Sunday’s election could bring in Germany’s first far-right state government since the Nazi era Germany is embarking on a crucial election period this month, with three key state polls that could markedly change the political terrain and make life decidedly harder for the federal government under the…

  17. France 24

    Germany: AfD eyes historic state election win (opens France 24)

    Published

    France 24's feed description

    In Saxony-Anhalt, AfD – Germany's far-right party – is polling at 40% or more of voting intentions, just days ahead of the regional election on 6 September 2026. If the AfD wins an absolute majority of seats, it could soon be in charge here.

  18. Al Jazeera

    Germany’s far-right AfD eyes historic first in state election (opens Al Jazeera)

    Published

    Al Jazeera's feed description

    Germany’s far-right AfD is projected to take power in one of the country’s 16 states for the first time.

  19. Revolver News

  20. Al Jazeera

    German voters head to polls as far-right AfD party eyes historic state win (opens Al Jazeera)

    Published

    Al Jazeera's feed description

    Saxony-Anhalt elections could see AfD become the first far-right party to take power at a state level since WWII.

  21. Deutsche Welle

    Saxony-Anhalt: Far-right AfD eyes power in German state vote (opens Deutsche Welle)

    Published

    Deutsche Welle's feed description

    Although the eastern state accounts for less than 3% of the nationwide electorate, the election outcome could serve as a bellwether about the far-right AFD's prospects in the rest of the country. DW has the latest.

  22. Bloomberg

    Germany’s Far Right Heads for Historic State Win: What to Watch (opens Bloomberg)

    Published

    Bloomberg's feed description

    Germany’s far right is expected to notch a decisive election victory in Saxony-Anhalt on Sunday, a result that could put the Alternative for Germany, or AfD, closer than ever to leading one of the country’s 16 states.

  23. France 24

    Germany's far-right AfD eyes historic state victory in Saxony-Anhalt election (opens France 24)

    Published

    France 24's feed description

    Germany's anti-immigrant Alternative for Germany (AfD) party is aiming to become the first far-right party to take power at a state level since World War II as voters in the eastern German state of Saxony-Anhalt head to the polls Sunday.

  24. Philadelphia Inquirer

    Polls open in regional election in eastern Germany that could bring a far-right state government to power (opens Philadelphia Inquirer)

    Published

    Philadelphia Inquirer's feed description

    Polls open in regional election in eastern Germany that could bring a far-right state government to power

  25. KOB 4

    Far-right Alternative for Germany party wins big in regional election but falls short of majority (opens KOB 4)

    Published

    KOB 4's feed description

    The far-right Alternative for Germany party has surged to a resounding victory in a regional election. But it fell a little short of winning a majority Sunday in its quest to form the country’s first far-right state government since World War II.

Showing the first 25 of 140 headlines. ·

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