Far-Right Surge in German Local Elections Highlights Risks of Political Fragmentation

Germany's recent municipal elections in North Rhine-Westphalia reveal a troubling shift that Washington should watch closely. Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s center-right Christian Democratic Union (CDU) secured a plurality with 33.3% of the vote, underscoring his party's standing as Germany's main conservative force. However, the real story lies in the meteoric rise of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD), which nearly tripled its vote share to 14.5%. Is Germany’s Mainstream Leadership Losing Grip Amid Growing Discontent? The election results highlight a broader crisis within German politics and by extension European stability—a crisis driven by economic stagnation, immigration concerns, and dissatisfaction with traditional...