Polls open in German state election with potential for far-right breakthrough

Polling stations have opened in the German state of Saxony-Anhalt for an election that could break the long-standing firewall maintained by mainstream parties against the anti-migration Alternative for Germany (AfD) party. This potential outcome represents a significant blow to Chancellor Friedrich Merz. Since the end of World War II, traditional German parties have maintained a cordon sanitaire, refusing to form coalitions with far-right movements. A breakthrough for the AfD in this election could dismantle this political convention and signal a historic shift in the German political landscape.