On September 6, 2026, Alternative for Germany (AfD) achieved a historic score in the Saxony-Anhalt Landtag elections, a state in eastern Germany with around 2.1 million inhabitants. According to official provisional results and reports from media outlets such as the BBC, DW, Tagesschau, Le Parisien or Reuters, the far-right party secured 43.8% of the vote (sometimes rounded to 44%), more than double its 2021 score (20.8%). The CDU of Chancellor Friedrich Merz collapsed to 17.2%, far behind. The AfD won 39 seats out of 83, falling just short of an absolute majority (42 seats). Turnout reached an exceptional level of 77.8%. Ulrich Siegmund, the AfD lead candidate, hailed a “sensational result” and a “mandate to govern,” while ruling out a pure minority government. No mainstream party has accepted a coalition with the AfD, which is classified as right-wing extremist by the state’s intelligence services. The BSW (Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance) crossed the threshold with around 5.2-5.3% and 5 seats, opening the possibility of discussions. Why this topic is circulating now: the result, announced on the evening of September 6 and confirmed on the 7th, constitutes the first such clear breakthrough by a far-right party in Germany since 1945 at the state level. It weakens Chancellor Merz and fuels European debates on the rise of radical right parties, nostalgia for the GDR in the east, immigration, purchasing power and a sense of downward mobility. French headlines such as that of RTL (“Red lines have been crossed”: why the RN is not rejoicing…), Franceinfo, Le Monde or La Dépêche immediately linked the German success with reactions in France. Origin and context of the RN-AfD distance: the RN and the AfD sat together in the Identity and Democracy group in the European Parliament until 2024. The split was sealed in May 2024 by Jordan Bardella after remarks by Maximilian Krah, then the AfD’s lead candidate, stating that a member of the Waffen-SS “is not automatically a criminal.” Marine Le Pen and Bardella referred to “red lines” that had been crossed, also linked to alleged espionage cases, “remigration” and other positions judged too radical. Since then, the RN has sat in the Patriots for Europe group (with Orbán, Salvini etc.), without the AfD. Éric Zemmour’s Reconquête, by contrast, hailed the victory as a “moment of truth.” Established facts on the RN’s reactions: neither Marine Le Pen nor Jordan Bardella issued immediate congratulations on social media. Jean-Philippe Tanguy (RN MP), interviewed on LCI, said he was “taking note of a popular vote” without “taking satisfaction in the party that won,” citing positions contrary to French interests and an unacceptable view of history. Philippe Ballard (RN spokesperson) repeated the formula of “red lines” crossed (a revised Second World War, Waffen-SS, remigration, remarks about disabled people) while conceding possible points of agreement on immigration or purchasing power, and calling for reflection on the causes of the vote. Bardella had indicated just before the election, at the Cernobbio forum, that a rapprochement was “not planned,” while noting that pressure from the AfD had pushed Germany to reintroduce border controls. These statements are reported consistently by RTL, BFMTV, Franceinfo, Le Nouvel Obs or RFI. What is accurate, exaggerated or uncertain: the AfD’s score and its historic character (best result by a far-right party since 1945 at this level, best AfD performance in a Landtag) are solidly established facts by the electoral authorities and multiple independent sources (ARD/ZDF, dpa, Wikipedia compiling official data). The RN’s lack of rejoicing and the invocation of “red lines” correspond precisely to the remarks of its officials and to the RTL article of September 7, 2026. There is no evidence of a secret celebration; the silence of the leading figures and the public distancing are documented. By contrast, the AfD’s ability to govern remains open: lacking an absolute majority and clear allies (except perhaps the BSW), complex negotiations, a possible minority government or new elections are being discussed. The RN’s motivations mix conviction (dedemonization in the face of the Jean-Marie Le Pen legacy) and strategic calculation (a respectable image ahead of a French presidential election). Analyses note that the RN and the AfD share themes (immigration, sovereignty) but diverge on Europe, history and the degree of radicalism. The AfD in Saxony-Anhalt is particularly marked on the right; figures such as Hans-Thomas Tillschneider are cited as hardline ideologues. Contradictions and blind spots: on the one hand, the RN stresses historical divergences and national interest; on the other, it acknowledges the electoral effectiveness of shared themes and the pressure the AfD exerts on German conservatives. Reconquête rejoices while the RN stays silent, illustrating the divisions within the French far right. Other French parties (Attal, Mélenchon, etc.) speak of a “warning signal” or a “catastrophe,” without the RN associating itself with them head-on. Blind spots: the exact details of coalition talks in Saxony-Anhalt are still unknown, as is the internal evolution of the national AfD, and whether the RN’s distance will remain absolute in the event of German federal success. Post-election polls on voters’ motivations (GDR nostalgia, rejection of immigration, economic discontent) are still partial. No official French source indicates an imminent rapprochement. Provisional conclusion: the factual elements of the RTL article and converging reports are confirmed. The AfD did indeed achieve a historic performance in Saxony-Anhalt on September 6, 2026 without an absolute majority. The RN is not publicly rejoicing in it, explicitly referring to the “red lines” of 2024 and to a normalization strategy. This position is consistent with its leaders’ statements and forms part of a context of dedemonization, without however erasing the thematic proximities. The verdict on the European impact and the formation of an executive in Saxony-Anhalt remains open; the available evidence does not allow one to assert a future alliance nor a total and definitive ideological rupture. Developments in the coming days and weeks, notably the coalition negotiations and national German reactions, will be decisive.