Merz’s CDU collapses in German regional elections ‘disaster’

Germany’s governing CDU suffered its worst result in 80 years in regional elections Sunday. Germany’s governing CDU suffered its worst result in 80 years in regional elections Sunday, which Chancellor Friedrich Merz called a “disaster” for his party, as both the far left and far right surged. The AfD expanded on strong recent results, which analysts believe could portend far-right victories in upcoming European elections. Ruling parties like Denmark’s Social Democrats have moved right on immigration to stymie the far-right’s progress, and the Swedish center-left’s victory last week — running on stricter migration rules — reflects that “ nativism is now shared by all [of Sweden’s] major parties, albeit in lighter form,” a political scientist told The Guardian. Facing a challenge from the right, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni announced Sunday that Italy would ban face coverings in schools.