Saxony-Anhalt Shock: Far-right AfD surged to 43.8% in the state election, its best-ever result, winning 39 of 83 seats and falling just short of a majority—setting up a real fight over whether it can form a minority government and potentially name Ulrich Siegmund as premier. Merz Under Pressure: Chancellor Friedrich Merz said he was “deeply shocked,” calling it the CDU’s heaviest defeat in decades, while insisting Germany’s “firewall” against the AfD remains and that reforms will continue. Public Backlash: Thousands protested at Berlin’s Brandenburg Gate after the vote, as churches and unions warned about social peace. AfD’s Power Play: Polling suggests many Germans oppose any AfD-led state government, but the election still gives the party a platform—also spilling into debates like Germany’s Bitcoin tax fight. Russia Escalation: In parallel, Russia ordered the closure of Germany’s consulate in Saint Petersburg and accused Berlin of “wanting war” after the Leipzig drone sabotage row. Energy & Tech Watch: ABB and Borussia Dortmund teamed up to turn SIGNAL IDUNA PARK into a smart-energy showcase, while Germany’s “balcony power” solar boom keeps growing with 550,000+ systems reported.