AfD victory in Saxony-Anhalt triggers international reactions

Washington, Paris, Rome, Madrid, London, Berlin, Brussels. Right-wing populists in Europe and the USA are enthusiastic about the AfD's clear victory in the state elections in Saxony-Anhalt - and see it as confirmation of their own course. The mood among moderate forces abroad is completely different after the victory of the AfD, whose regional association in Saxony-Anhalt is classified by the Office for the Protection of the Constitution as definitely right-wing extremist. The reactions worldwide.

US President Donald Trump posted the preliminary election results on Sunday without comment. Major American media outlets such as the Wall Street Journal featured them prominently on their websites, and the New York Times reported on the election with a live blog.

Some US journalists drew parallels to the Third Reich. There is a possibility that “for the first time since the Nazi era, the far right could rule part of the country,” wrote the New York Times. The election sends a signal to Europe.

Right-wing influencers and websites in the USA celebrated the AfD's victory. “The AfD wins a historic victory in the federal state election,” wrote Breitbart. "The AfD just won a landslide victory in East Germany," wrote right-wing influencer Benny Johnson on “Europe is waking up.”