AfD victory raises questions over Europe’s political alliances and Ukraine policy

Tuesday 08 September 2026 - 11:15

By: Azzat Manal

AfD victory raises questions over Europe’s political alliances and Ukraine policy

The strong electoral performance of Germany’s Alternative for Germany (AfD) is fueling debate over the future direction of European politics, particularly regarding support for Ukraine and relations with Russia.

Western media analyses have described the AfD’s victory in Saxony-Anhalt as another sign of the growing influence of European political movements that are critical of continued military support for Kyiv and more open to reassessing relations with Moscow.

Bloomberg reported that the result could reflect broader changes in the European political landscape, as right-wing and nationalist parties gain ground in several major countries. The trend is not limited to Germany, with political figures in France and Italy also expressing positions that differ from the mainstream European approach to the war in Ukraine.

In France, National Rally president Jordan Bardella has opposed what he describes as unconditional support for Ukraine, while Italian politician Roberto Vannacci has called for dialogue with Russia and has adopted a hard-line position on immigration. Their views illustrate the growing diversity of positions within Europe’s right-wing political movements.

The increasing influence of these parties could eventually put pressure on governments in some of Europe’s largest countries to reconsider aspects of their foreign and security policies. However, electoral gains at the national or regional level do not automatically translate into immediate changes in government policy, particularly on issues involving European security and relations with NATO allies.

The AfD secured 43.8% of the vote in the September 6 election in Saxony-Anhalt, according to the figures cited in the reports, while Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s Christian Democratic Union (CDU) received 17.2%.

Merz described the result as one of the CDU’s most serious electoral defeats in decades and acknowledged that the outcome could have consequences beyond Germany’s domestic political scene.

The result has also intensified discussion over Germany’s political balance and the possibility of the AfD gaining greater influence in state and national politics. Although the party remains controversial and faces strong opposition from Germany’s established political forces, its growing electoral support is increasingly difficult to ignore.

Across Europe, the rise of parties advocating tougher immigration policies, greater national sovereignty and a reassessment of relations with Russia could reshape political debates over Ukraine. Whether this translates into a fundamental change in Europe’s collective policy toward Kyiv and Moscow, however, will depend on future elections, coalition arrangements and developments in the war.