Italy's Foreign Minister Tajani warns of AfD success in Saxony-Anhalt

Italy's Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Antonio Tajani described the AfD's performance in the state elections in Saxony-Anhalt as "extremely bad news". The head of the conservative ruling party Forza Italia said in a statement that he hoped the AfD's electoral success in the eastern German state would remain a "local exception." According to projections, the AfD became the strongest force in the election.

Tajani described the AfD as a political force that is “diametrically opposed to the liberal and Western values ​​with which Forza Italia identifies”. The voters' decision should be respected. However, it must be prevented that a “populist and fanatical development takes hold in Europe,” Italian media quoted Tajani as saying.

Forza Italia - founded by Silvio Berlusconi (1936-2023) - is traditionally considered pro-European. The party is a member of the European People's Party, which also includes the CDU. In Giorgia Meloni's right-wing three-party coalition, Forza Italia is a junior partner alongside Lega. Lega leader and second deputy prime minister Matteo Salvini congratulated the AfD on its performance. There are always disagreements between Forza Italia and Lega.