The right-wing Alternative for Germany party won a record number of votes in European Union elections on Sunday, in a sharp rebuke to Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s governing three-party coalition in Germany and a sign of the rightward political shift across the continent.
The party, known as AfD, captured 16 percent of the vote, placing second behind Germany’s conservative Christian Democrats, which won 30 percent.
It was AfD’s strongest showing in a nationwide election, and it came as Mr. Scholz’s coalition has reached record-low levels of popularity in the country, according to polls.
A spokesman for Mr. Scholz has ruled out early elections.
Describing her party’s showing a “major success,” Ms. Weidel said at a news conference in Berlin that the government was working against, not for, Germany.
Persons:
Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s, Scholz’s, Alice Weidel, Mr, Scholz, Emmanuel Macron, ” Ms, Weidel, ”
Organizations:
Germany, Christian Democrats, “
Locations:
Germany, France, Berlin