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

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.