European leaders welcome AfD's victory with concern: "It is a threat to Europe"

Several European political leaders have expressed concern about the victory of theultra-right-wing Alternative for Germany (AfA0) party in the Saxony-Anhalt state elections, as well as the European Union's High Representative for Foreign Affairs, Kaja Kallas.

The ultra-right-wing Alternative Party for Germany (AfD) has won a broad victory in the Federal State of Saxony-Anhalt elections, and although it has not achieved an absolute majority to govern alone in the German region, it has achieved a record result that has shaken the country's political landscape.

With all the ballots counted, AfD has won 43.8%of the vote, remaining three seats out of the absolute majority, ahead of Chancellor Friedrich Merz's party (17.2%).

Mertz stressed on Monday the importance of defending Western values vis-à-vis Russia, where AfD is in favour of normalising relations with Moscow and suspending travel to Kiev. "I am not going to take a millimeter away from the idea that we must now defend our freedom against Russia as well; I will probably have to explain it much more and more intensively," he said at a press conference in Berlin.

On the other hand, Kallas has warned thatthe 'threat' is approaching Europe. The High Representative of the European Union has expressed concern that 'blind' partiesare being won.  "We have seen more and more acts of sabotage and threats in Europe.

In France, Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot has warned that there is "no commitment" to the extreme right and has called on democratic forces to respond to social discontent. Barrot has called for "eyes wide open" to therise of a "neo-Nazi, anti-European, and pro-Putin party" in Germany.

The Netherlands  has also described this victory by the far-right as "disturbing," in the words of Prime Minister Rob Jetten, who has described the success of a party with "extremist and pro-Russian positions" as "disturbing."

Polish Prime Minister DonaldTusk has lamented the victory of AfD and has attacked those who celebrate victory in his country, saying that "only traitors or slogans in Poland can rejoice at AfD's victory in Germany."