Small election earthquake for Merkel’s open door on immigration
A new, nationalist anti-immigration party beat Chancellor Angela Merkel’s party in the regional elections held in three states. Alternative fuer Deutschland — which means Alternative for Germany – was formed in 2013 and previously held no seats in those three state legislatures. Its came out with double digit results in Saxony-Anhalt, Baden-Wuerttemberg and Rhineland-Palatinate, which have a combined population of 17 million, around one-fifth of Germany’s total populace.
Government spokesman Steffen Seibert said Germany will continue to "pursue its refugee policy at home and abroad."