AfD took first place in state elections in northeastern Germany, delivering a ‘disaster’ for Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who vowed to push ahead with his reform agenda. Here are four takeaways ▻ ↧ AfD leads as Merz rues 'disaster' in worst state election result in... The far-right Alternative for Germany took first place in state elections in northeastern Germany, delivering the worst result for Chancellor Friedrich Merz's mainstream conservative party since 1949.