AfD Gains Ground in Germany as Support for Merz Falls

The far-right AfD has secured an election victory in Germany, with Ulrich Siegmund set to enter the state chancellery. The win was helped by around 170,000 non-voters who backed the party. In a national poll, the AfD has extended its lead while the conservative Union trails far behind. Meanwhile, 78 percent of voters, including many Union supporters, no longer see Friedrich Merz as the right chancellor. Protests against right-wing extremism have also taken place.