Good morning. Angela Skujins here, penning this newsletter, where an election in the German region of Saxony-Anhalt — an area unknown to many before Monday — is serving as a dark omen for the country’s embattled leader, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz. #EuropeToday

A large AfD victory would pile more pressure onto Merz and his increasingly unpopular coalition. The party has been polling at more than 40%. #EuropeNews

The German chancellor rules out working with the AfD even though he concedes its win in Saxony-Anhalt has upset his party’s foundations.