World
German Chancellor Merz Vows to Fight 'Extremism' After AfD and Left-Wing Party Win Elections
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has called for a society-wide push against "extremism" after heavy local election losses to the far-right AfD, which has become the dominant force in much of eastern Germany. The AfD elected a state parliament speaker in Saxony-Anhalt, while the Left party won Berlin's state election, and Merz's approval rating has fallen to its lowest level since 1997.