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Aberdeen's attacking issues laid bare
The 48 chances created by Stephen Robinson's side is the lowest tally in the division - same for their 37 chances from open play - while they have the fewest shots on target (18) and second-fewest shots (70). It must be noted Aberdeen haven't had the kindest fixtures, with Robinson keen to point out they have faced five of last season's top-six teams in their opening seven games. Eight points have been accrued, leaving the Dons seventh in a congested table and just two points shy of fourth, so there's no reason for panic.
BBC to axe sports bulletins on its news channel
Cuts are part of plan to save £500m and lose as many as 2,000 staff by 2028
Ad break during game was unscheduled, says Disney+
Coverage of Arsenal's Women's Champions League opener also featured a dog on set, a vegetable platter and a rotating floor.
What would nearly brand new Scotland XI look like?
Eight of the Scotland squad are uncapped so what would the least experienced XI look like? And who would you pick for your starting line-up?
Colts bring back familiar face to practice squad
The Indianapolis Colts are bringing back a familiar face to the practice squad.
Shohei Ohtani expected to be activated on Wednesday
Ohtani has missed the last 13 games due to multiple injuries, spot in starting lineup remains undecided.
When are the 2026 NFL London matches taking place?
BBC Sport's Ask Me Anything team looks at when the NFL is coming to London in 2026
Pocognoli has 'positive nervousness' for Scotland debut
Scotland head coach Sebastien Pocognoli admits to feeling a "positive nervousness" before his first game in charge of the country, a Nations League tie against Slovenia in Ljubljana on Saturday.
'Cahill calm over owners unlikely to ease fan concern'
Tim Cahill has suggested Everton fans should not be concerned about the owners' lack of visibility and that supporters "have to be careful what you wish for". Most understood The Friedkin Group needed time to unpick the tangled financial web left behind by the Farhad Moshiri era. The early business deals, such as consolidating the club's high-interest debt and replacing it with a long-term financing deal with JPMorgan Chase, felt a healthy step forward.
Leicester's style 'enjoyable to play in'
Leicester City forward Tommy Watson is enjoying the style of play under Russell Martin after netting his first goals for the club against Fulham U21s.
'No sympathy for Carrick & Alonso
Former Manchester City defender Nedum Onuoha, does not feel any sympathy for Manchester United's Michael Carrick and Xabi Alonso of Chelsea. Both sides have suffered some poor results early in the new season and there is pressure building over Carrick in particular to get results. "With Ruben Amorim, I remember people saying they didn't want him to go because they just wanted a level of stability but by the end, Amorim was sabotaging himself - he was so, so poor," Onuoha told BBC Radio 5 Live's Monday Night Club.
'No sympathy for Carrick & Alonso
Former Manchester City defender Nedum Onuoha, does not feel any sympathy for Manchester United's Michael Carrick and Xabi Alonso of Chelsea. Both sides have suffered some poor results early in the new season and there is pressure building over Carrick in particular to get results. "With Ruben Amorim, I remember people saying they didn't want him to go because they just wanted a level of stability but by the end, Amorim was sabotaging himself - he was so, so poor," Onuoha told BBC Radio 5 Live's Monday Night Club.
'De Zerbi is in an impossible position'
Tottenham's Roberto de Zerbi as well as Xabi Alonso of Chelsea are in an "impossible position" this season, believes The Observer's Rory Smith. The managers took charge of their clubs in the spring and oversaw a lot of activity in the transfer window, with Chelsea and Spurs ending the summer as the second and third highest spenders respectively. Smith says the changes to their squads is why De Zerbi and Alonso need time to build coherence in their sides.
Kostoulas & Vuskovic shining for high-flying Seagulls
Brighton are flying high under the youngest manager in the top flight after five games of the Premier League season. Fabian Hurzeler guided his side to a 3-0 victory against Arsenal on the 125-year anniversary of the club in style - and the Seagulls sit in a very pleasing third place in the table. Former Brighton midfielder Warren Aspinall told Radio Sussex's Albion Unlimited podcast that the Gunners were "out-thought and out-battled".
'Ampadu showed why he's one of league's best midfielders'
Leeds captain Ethan Ampadu showed he is one of the best midfielders in the league in the 0-0 draw with Crystal Palace, believes Don't Go To Bed Just Yet podcaster Jonny Buchan. Leeds United stayed unbeaten in the Premier League - with two wins and three draws - thanks to the draw with Crystal Palace.
Reform and the UAE – a threat to British politics
By Alex Carlen The United Arab Emirates likes to present itself as part of the solution to the climate crisis. The oil-rich Gulf state has committed to Net Zero by 2050, hosted COP 28, and even declared “championing climate action” as one of three strategic objectives for this week’s session of the United Nations General Assembly. But behind the scenes the UAE has quietly built one of its closest political relationships in Europe with the party most hostile to climate action in Britain: Nigel Farage’s Reform UK. There is no evidence that the UAE is funding Reform. But a new FairSquare report, Petro-populism: the UAE–Reform threat, published today, documents a growing political relationship that should concern anyone interested in the integrity of British democracy. Reform’s leaders have embraced the UAE’s political model and promoted positions that align closely with the Emirati government’s priorities, while the UAE has given Farage and his party unusually warm access and public backing. What is emerging is not simply a relationship between British politicians and a wealthy Gulf state, but a channel through which an authoritarian government can cultivate political influence here, and abroad. Democracy for Sale relies on its readers. If you already support us, thanks so much. If you don’t, sign up to support fearless independent investigative journalism. Subscribe Back in January, Nigel Farage appeared at a GB News event in Dubai. On the 50th floor of a tower overlooking the luxury resorts and upscale residences of Palm Jumeirah, the Reform leader declared: “I want Clacton to look like this.” At the event – which Farage never declared on his official register of interests – senior Emirati officials mixed with British expats. Farage was keen to flatter. “We recognise you are our friends”, he said, assuring them that “a Brexit London, a Reform London, will remember you.” Controversy surrounding Reform’s finances and its susceptibility to foreign influence have centred around high-profile donations from billionaire crypto donors, and the jailing of Nathan Gill, Reform’s former leader in Wales, for accepting bribes to give pro-Russia speeches. Far less attention has been paid to Reform’s blossoming new alliance with the UAE, an oil-rich authoritarian state with a track record of ruinous anti-democratic interventions. Farage wasn’t always so fond of the UAE. Back in 2023 he called it an “absolute monarchy with an abysmal human rights record.” Now Reform’s hierarchy calls the UAE home. Deputy leader Richard Tice splits his time between his constituency and Dubai and has called on the UK to learn from the UAE. The party’s treasurer Nick Candy runs a firm which has been in partnership with a UAE-state linked firm since 2024. Nadhim Zahawi sits on the board of an Abu Dhabi think tank alongside an array of the most senior UAE officials and is reportedly close to three brothers of the country’s despotic ruler Mohammed Bin Zayed. Reform’s leading lights have effusively praised the UAE’s governance model, defended it from criticism, and advanced its political agenda in the UK. GB News, whose two major shareholders – the Legatum Foundation and Paul Marshall – have strong links to the UAE, has been more than happy to broadcast UAE propaganda and was forced to pay damages in 2025 after airing a false claim about a UK charity by the UAE “disinfluencer” Amjad Taha. The UAE has responded in kind. When the UAE Minister for Foreign Affairs conducted an official visit to the UK in May, Farage was the only non-government figure granted an audience. UAE state media publicised the meeting, and said that they discussed “the strategic relations between the two countries and ways to enhance them in a manner that serves mutual interests.” For the UAE these ‘mutual interests’ largely concern its paranoia over political Islam, and in this regard the UAE-Reform alliance is part of a broad and troubling pattern. Following a crackdown on dissent at home in the aftermath of the Arab Spring, the UAE has offered material and political support to a range of violent and authoritarian actors willing to oppose the Muslim Brotherhood with no regard for the consequences. Its meddling in Egypt, Tunisia, Yemen, and most notably Sudan, have been devastating. The UAE’s strategy of seeking out partners on the political fringes who it believes will advance its interests is not unique to Britain – it extends beyond the Middle East to Europe and the US. In France, it has offered clandestine support to Marine Le Pen through secret meetings, as well allegedly funding trips to the region after which Le Pen returned with a renewed focus on the UAE’s perceived enemies – Qatar and the Muslim Brotherhood. Left-wing opposition leader Jean-Luc Mélenchon has accused the UAE of smearing him and of “encouraging discrimination, hatred or violence”. In the US, the UAE actively supported the rise of Donald Trump, establishing itself as a key ally during both his first and second terms. Around these relationships sits a wider ecosystem of figures willing to amplify UAE narratives, that even extends to Andrew Tate and Tommy Robinson. Subscribe In Britain, the UAE has used a combination of aggressive diplomacy and illicit, disruptive tactics to achieve its policy goal of eliminating any perceived threat from political Islam. In 2012, for instance, it threatened to block billion-pound arms deals with the UK and stop inward investment if David Cameron did not act against the Muslim Brotherhood and rein in the BBC’s coverage of the group – going so far as to suggest, with no supporting evidence, that the group had infiltrated the BBC. It has financed smear campaigns against a high-profile UK charity and funded a mercenary to secretly surveil, and possibly assassinate, a British national on British soil. In Reform UK, the UAE has finally found an ally willing to not only ban the Muslim Brotherhood, but to publicly vilify the group and repeat the UAE’s claims that dangerous Muslims are a fifth column in British society, a narrative that aligns with the Islamophobia and anti-immigration sentiments that underpin Reform’s populist politics. The Rycroft review into foreign interference concluded that “hostile states and non-state actors have a clear incentive to attempt to undermine UK democracy.” The UAE’s network and alliance with Reform must be understood within that framework. It is a powerful, disruptive and deeply authoritarian actor with the resources and networks to intervene in our politics, and a track-record of doing so in a multitude of other countries. The evidence of the threat the UAE poses is overwhelming. The question is whether parliamentarians are willing to call the UAE out and demand action using the tools that the government has to respond. Placing the UAE on the “Enhanced Tier” of the Foreign Registration scheme alongside Russia and Iran would send a powerful signal to the UAE that its meddling will no longer be tolerated, and would place Farage’s next trips to the UAE under the scrutiny they deserve. Alex Carlen is research and advocacy manager at London based human rights organisation FairSquare and author of its new report Petro-populism: the UAE–Reform threat. Subscribe
Isle of Man election: Housing and apathy on the minds of Middle voters
Housing is an election concern for some people in Middle but others are not interested in politics.
Ibragimov flourishing after senior Russia call-up
Young striker Amir Ibragimov is benefitting from his first taste of senior international football last summer, according to Manchester United's Under-21 coach Adam Lawrence. Although he has been left out of the expanded 38-man squad for the forthcoming matches against Iran, Namibia and Nigeria, Ibragimov has caught the eye at youth level for United. Ibragimov had previously been thought of as a number 10, but that was the position JJ Gabriel slotted into at Under-18 level last season.
Championship 2026-27: What have we learned so far?
As we enter the three-week international break, BBC Sport looks back at the opening block of Championship fixtures to see what we have learned so far.
'Shadow of Elliott saga hangs over Garnacho future'
Alejandro Garnacho had no future with Xabi Alonso's new-look Chelsea - he did not train with the squad before leaving for Aston Villa in July. Chelsea have the chance to make their money back on their outlay to sign him from Manchester United, Villa get an international winger and the player has a chance to revitalise a flailing career. For instance, Harvey Elliott would have triggered a move worth £35m if he made just 10 Premier League appearances last season.
Edwards' Red Roses move inspired by late mother
England back row Marlie Packer says defence coach Shaun Edwards' surprise move into the Red Roses set-up was partly inspired by his late mother Phyllis.
Feyi-Waboso could be star at World Cup
Immanuel Feyi-Waboso could be one of England's stars at next summer's World Cup if he can keep fit this season, says Exeter boss Rob Baxter.
Brave of Lampard to start Thomas-Asante
Former Coventry City goalkeeper Steve Ogrizovic says it was "brave" to play Brandon Thomas-Asante as the number nine on Saturday against Nottingham Forest - but it was a decision that paid off for manager Frank Lampard. Ghana striker Thomas-Asante got the nod ahead of Ellis Simms and summer signing Sidiki Cherif as Lampard opted to shake-up his attacking line-up. Thomas-Asante was supported by wingers Ephron Mason-Clark and Jack Rudoni, with the trio's regular interchanging of positions leaving Forest players wondering who to mark.
PLA chiefs’ downfall eliminated ‘political danger’, military mouthpiece says
Ousting of Zhang Youxia and Liu Zhenli was a ‘major victory’ in the Chinese military’s war on corruption: PLA Daily.
Liverpool U21's show 'character' in shootout win over Rochdale
Boss Rob Page hailed the "character and resilience" of his Liverpool U21's side as they drew 3-3 against Rochdale in the Jersey Mike's Trophy while down to 10-men. Mor Talla Ndiaye was sent off in the first half for Liverpool before Devante Rodney broke the deadlock for Rochdale. Liverpool equalised before the break with a great solo goal from Will Wright, but Rochdale scored twice in quick succession in the second half through 41-year-old Ian Henderson.
Man Utd, Neville and how the media agenda is set
Gary Neville setting the media agenda when it comes to Manchester United is not a new thing. One instance was in December 2021, after a poor first-half performance against a struggling Newcastle side when Ralf Rangnick's side trailed 1-0 at the break. "They're a bunch of whinge-bags," Neville said at half-time on Sky Sports.
Truro City progress after rare FA Cup victory
Truro City manager John Askey hopes his side can continue to progress in the FA Cup after their first win in the competition in five years.
UK to review Chagos Islands deal after Trump called it 'terrible'
Defence Secretary Wes Streeting has confirmed the review after US president told Andy Burnham the deal was "terrible".
Germany's saviour? How Klopp is looking to turn fortunes around
As Jurgen Klopp prepares for his first game as Germany manager, BBC Sport looks at how is trying to turn their fortunes around.
Kelly keen to kick on in Nations League campaign
Northern Ireland midfielder is hoping to build on a promising start to his international career during the upcoming Nations League campaign.
How Premier League teams have really started
Which Premier League teams have overperformed their xG and who has underperformed?
The Kiwi aiming to lead Wales to Netball World Cup
Wales will be led by New Zealander Reinga Bloxham as they aim to qualify for the 2027 Netball World Cup in Australia.
Ravens sign former Bengals receiver Jackson
The Baltimore Ravens announced they signed former Cincinnati Bengals receiver Shedrick Jackson to their practice squad.
Turning a hobby into a business idea and making it pay
People in Devon and Cornwall describe finding satisfaction and a salary from their passion projects.
Daughter calls for tighter mental health restrictions
Sapphire Greatorex's 82-year-old father was fatally stabbed in his own front garden.
Chris Mason: In the room with President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Andy Burnham
Burnham seemed nervous at first, knowing how explosive these encounters with Trump can be, writes BBC political editor Chris Mason.
Washington County commissioner decries ‘culture of fear’ cultivated by recently resigned chair
Commissioner Nafisa Fai spoke out a week after Kathryn Harrington’s obscene gesture sparked widespread condemnation.
Man Utd & Liverpool eye Mitchell
Manchester United and Liverpool are keen on Crystal Palace defender Tyrick Mitchell, Aston Villa loan attacker Alejandro Garnacho is on the radar of La Liga clubs, while Chelsea want Gambian teenager Adama Jeng, plus more.
Wasteful Arsenal need late penalty to beat Koge
Mariona Caldentey scores from the spot in stoppage time to snatch victory for Arsenal against HB Koge in the Women's Champions League.
Jacks stars as England grind out win over Sri Lanka
Will Jacks' all-round efforts help England grind out an 89-run victory over Sri Lanka in the first one-day international at Chester-le-Street.
Man City fight back from two down to thwart Bayern
Manchester City produce a superb recovery as they fight back from two goals down on their return to the Women's Champions League to draw 2-2 with Bayern Munich in Germany.
Trump says he can do business with Burnham but criticises 'terrible' Chagos deal
The UK has proposed handing the Chagos Islands to Mauritius and paying to lease back an important military base.
Disney Promotes Cathleen Taff and Lisa Baldzicki in Consumer Products Shakeup
Disney restructured its Disney Consumer Products team, looping the division into the Disney Entertainment umbrella.
What have we learned from Barcelona’s start to the season?
Hansi Flick’s side have made a stunning start to the campaign.
Brent Venables shares positive injury update on DT David Stone
Oklahoma Sooners star defensive tackle David Stone suffered a knee injury at practive, but Brent Venables shared a positve update.
'We deserve to win something - this could be the year'
Joe: This may read as a bizarre statement as a lifelong fan - I do not want Brighton to win any silverware this year. Having said that, I'd hope Tony Bloom would be better than that if a trophy arrives, which I'm sure he is. Nicholas: Brighton have set the bar for other clubs.
I was close to joining Liverpool in 2016
Kylian Mbappe says his mum was a "big fan" of Jurgen Klopp and wanted her son to move to Merseyside.
Graham says getting first Scotland call-up was 'surreal'
Luke Graham says getting his first call-up to the Scotland squad was "pretty surreal". The 22-year-old defender has impressed since making the summer switch to Stoke City, playing eight games so far in the Championship. Sebastien Pocognoli included the former Dundee defender in his first Scotland squad - a pleasant surprise for the Graham family.
Arizona Cardinals fall in new 2026 power rankings
Arizona Cardinals fall in most new power rankings.
'Arsenal game will show where we are at'
John: It's good to be ambitious, but our first target has to be survival. Qualifying for Europe would be great but could cause difficulties in the league next year as we have a pretty small panel of quality players. Pat: Unless we absolutely storm the league this season, I would be nervous of us qualifying for Europe.
John Martin steps down as CEO of MVP-PFL
The MVP-PFL era will move forward without John Martin after the executive announced Tuesday that he's resigned as CEO of the company.
Spurs legend Hughton 'very confident things will improve'
Former Tottenham defender Chris Hughton says he is "very confident things will improve" under Roberto de Zerbi despite a poor start to the 2026-27 season. Sometimes it clicks straight away, sometimes it takes time.
The B-teams making elite look ordinary
The fact that Arsenal are not invincible has clearly come as a bit of a surprise to some people. Both Brighton and Brentford will sit in the top four for the three weeks of the international break, with Bournemouth finding their feet under a new manager. In the last four seasons Brighton have averaged an eighth-place league finish - astonishing for a smaller provincial club outwith the major cities.
Reading need to tidy up results on the road
Reading FC defender Haydon Roberts says squad is stronger to compete for promotion this season after falling away last term.
BBC Audio | The Inquiry | How did Italian politics become stable?
Italy was once known for political instability, so how did that change?
New Digital Maternal Health Hub Aims to Close Critical Gaps in Maternal Health Care Across Pennsylvania
AUDUBON, Pa., September 22, 2026--The Lincoln Center for Family and Youth (TLC), a nonprofit leader in community-based mental health services, has partnered with Greenspace Health to develop Bloom, a centralized digital platform designed to streamline access to maternal health care and social determinants of health (SDoH) resources and services for underserved communities across Pennsylvania.
'My degree shows what footballers can achieve'
Norwich City's Pelle Mattsson says his degree in financial management is proof players "can achieve things outside of football".
'A really positive start for Barry'
Thierno Barry has been the surprise hit of Everton's season so far, with the 23-year-old striker the match-winner against Ipswich to take his tally to five goals this season. It is a marked improvement in scoring ratio from his eight goals in 41 games last season - and BBC Sport Merseyside commenter Chris Coughlin believes Barry is becoming a favourite with fans. It is Everton heritage and an honour to wear the number nine.
Arteta agrees long-term Arsenal contract extension
Mikel Arteta has agreed a new long-term deal with Arsenal including a pay increase, according to a report.Photo by Stu Forster/Getty ImagesSami Mokbel reports for the BBC that Mikel Arteta has agreed ...
La Liga chief dismisses Real's ref conspiracy claims
La Liga president Javier Tebas says claiming there is a refereeing conspiracy against Real Madrid is like "living in another galaxy".
UNC's Bill Belichick Has Perfect Response After Loss to Clemson
A loss is a loss, but things are changing.
England bat first against Sri Lanka in opening ODI
Follow live text, BBC Radio 5 Live Sport commentary and in-play video highlights as England face Sri Lanka in the first one-day international at Chester-le-Street.
Summer spending put Alonso in 'impossible position'
Chelsea's Xabi Alonso as well as Roberto de Zerbi of Tottenham are in an "impossible position" this season, believes The Observer's Rory Smith. The managers took charge of their clubs in the spring and oversaw a lot of activity in the transfer window, with Chelsea and Spurs ending the summer as the second and third-highest spenders respectively. Smith says the changes to their squads is why Alonso and De Zerbi need time to build coherence in their sides.
Is Ageu finally ready to prove his worth?
Wouter Vrancken has transformed the style of play within months, guided Hearts into the Conference League and the League Cup semi-finals. It has reached the point where I am trying to track down Vladimir Romanov's spiritual healer, Rima, and persuade her to bring the golden stick to Oriam. Vrancken is already hugely popular with the support.
Cardiff pain must lead to progress for Charlton
Charlton Athletic fan Paul Sullivan hopes the club can use the extended international break wisely
Health experts warn of seasonal illness increase as fall begins
Local health experts are warning residents to prepare for an increase in seasonal illnesses as the first day of fall brings a drastic shift from humid heat to cool, wet conditions.
CEO Parsons hails Saints fans' loyalty after Spygate
Southampton CEO Phil Parsons thanks fans for backing the club and the team following the Spygate scandal.
Who has scored against the most Premier League teams?
BBC Sport's Ask Me Anything team looks at which players have scored against the most teams in Premier League history
From punk to politics - the making of new Reform Wales leader Helen Jenner
Who is Reform's new Welsh leader, former English teacher Helen Jenner?
Big Ten Conference announces start time for Nebraska-Maryland matchup
Nebraska has announced the kickoff time for its Homecoming game against Maryland.
Montgomery receives first senior Scotland call-up
Blackburn Rovers midfielder Kristi Montgomery receives his first call-up into the senior Scotland squad for their Nations League matches.
'One of the great unsolved mysteries of science': What general anaesthetic reveals about our brains
How general anaesthetics work is still not fully understood, but they are revealing clues about the nature of consciousness.
Red Bull's Hadjar to return at Azerbaijan Grand Prix
Red Bull driver Isack Hadjar will return at this week's Azerbaijan Grand Prix after missing the past three races with a wrist injury.
Business across the West struggle to profit as fuel prices soar
Fuel prices across the West have risen to nearly £2 per litre amid ongoing conflict in the Middle East.
Why are United thriving away from Tannadice?
You could make a case we should have beaten Rangers and Falkirk at Tannadice, but we didn't. The trips to Kilmarnock and St Mirren, though, produced two magnificent performances. Tannadice on match days can be an unforgiving place.
Steur has 'huge future in the game'
Former Newcastle defender John Anderson reckons the £23m paid to sign teenage midfielder Sean Steur from Ajax is "looking like a bargain". The 18-year-old made 24 appearances for Ajax in 2025-26 and has started twice in the Premier League for the Magpies this season, impressing in Saturday's 2-1 win over Hull City. "He is still a very inexperienced boy," Anderson told BBC Radio Newcastle.
Brentford's remaining players given week off
Most squads in the Premier League these days are packed with international players, and Brentford are no different. Most of the Bees' squad are away, but Callum Wilson and Igor Thiago are among about 12 players left at their training facility, including five who are coming back from injury. Brentford have a longer break than almost every other team, given they hosted Chelsea on Friday.
'Kobe will always be welcome in Crossmolina'
Kobe McDonald's Gaelic football career is over for now with Crossmolina's Mayo SFC defeat at the weekend which drew over 5,000 fans to the small village of Garrymore.
Egan's late career resurgence back to Premier League
BBC Sport NI looks at Republic of Ireland centre-back's John Egan's rise back to the Premier League with Hull City and the international set-up under Heimir Hallgrimsson.
'This is not Wrexham. I'm not Ryan Reynolds'
A new BBC podcast Mud, Sweat and Cheers: Trouble at the Bottom – Sheffield FC goes behind the scenes on an extraordinary season at the world's oldest football club.
Jiang Feng: The Unravelling of German & European Politics
A state election in eastern Germany has become a revealing test of the changing political landscapes of Germany and Europe, writes Jiang Feng, Professor and Chairman of the Council of the Shanghai Academy of Global Governance and Area Studies (SAGGAS) at Shanghai International Studies University. His analysis follows the decisive victory of the Alternative for Germany (AfD) (which has been classified as right-wing extremist by German authorities)in the state of Saxony-Anhalt on 6 September, in which it finished far ahead of its mainstream rivals. Jiang previously served as Minister-Counsellor at the Chinese Embassy in Berlin. The following article was published on 8 September 2026 on huanqiu.com, the online platform of the Global Times. On 6 September, the results of the state election in Saxony-Anhalt, Germany, were announced. The Alternative for Germany (AfD), classified as far-right by German authorities, made history by becoming the largest party in the state parliament, winning 43.8 per cent of the vote — twice its share in the previous election. The Christian Democratic Union (CDU), which had governed the state continuously for 24 years, won just 17.2 per cent, its worst result ever in Saxony-Anhalt. On the night the results were announced, the atmosphere at the CDU gathering was unusually calm. There was neither shock nor argument, as if the defeat had long been expected. Several veteran party members who had spent years working in the state government said: “Defeat is not a bad thing. It is time to make changes.” This state election has not only upended Saxony-Anhalt’s political landscape, but also laid bare the deep tensions between Germany’s traditional party structure and model of governance, on the one hand, and an increasingly polarised society on the other. Its repercussions are already being felt at the federal level, making Saxony-Anhalt a useful case study of the broader trend towards political polarisation and realignment in Europe. Governing Difficulties after Electoral Victory The most immediate consequence of the election is a historic setback for the mainstream party order that took shape in post-war Germany. In Saxony-Anhalt, the AfD has leapt from a peripheral party to the largest political force in the state. Its electoral base has expanded beyond the traditional category of “marginal protest voters” to take on the characteristics of a cross-class coalition. The party has not only consolidated its support in rural areas, but also attracted many middle-class voters and even members of the social elite with stable jobs, their own homes, and substantial incomes. It has thus evolved from a “protest party” into one with the potential to govern. Despite its commanding lead in the vote, however, the AfD faces an institutional obstacle to governing the state: the mainstream parties’ long-standing “firewall” against it. Neither of the two potential routes to forming a government appears likely to break the current political deadlock. The first would be a coalition of establishment parties, led by the CDU and bringing together the Social Democratic Party (SPD), the Greens, the Left Party (Die Linke) and the Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance (BSW) in a cross-camp government. In terms of parliamentary arithmetic, such a coalition could prevent the AfD from forming a government and preserve the outward stability of the traditional political order. Yet these parties are fundamentally divided over key issues including immigration, the energy transition, economic management, and cultural and education policy. Coalition negotiations would therefore be extremely difficult, and even if a government could be formed, it would most likely prove short-lived. More importantly, an alliance of establishment parties aimed at keeping the largest party out of government would play directly into the AfD’s narrative that “political elites are suppressing public opinion”. It could deepen perceptions of political unfairness, further strengthening the AfD’s political capital, and creating a dynamic in which “the more it is suppressed, the more people vote for it”. Ulrich Siegmund, the AfD’s candidate for state premier, has said that if efforts to form a government fail because other parties refuse to cooperate, the AfD will push for a fresh election, which he believes could deliver the party an absolute majority of seats. This points to more intense political battles ahead. The second option would be a coalition between the AfD and the BSW. Together, the two parties would command a simple majority in parliament, making this, on paper, the quickest route to forming a government. The BSW is the only elected party that has not ruled out cooperation with the AfD, and the two parties share some common ground, including on policy towards Russia. There is therefore a degree of political basis for cooperation. Were such a coalition to materialise, Germany would see its first state government jointly formed by a party defined as far-right and one with a far-left background, creating what might be called a “bipolar anti-establishment alliance”. Such an outcome would fundamentally break with the ideological boundaries of post-war German party politics. It is worth noting that even if the AfD ultimately fails to enter the state government, its roughly 47 per cent share of parliamentary seats would give it a powerful blocking minority. Without its consent, major decisions requiring a two-thirds majority — including constitutional amendments, significant budgetary adjustments, and state-level institutional reforms — would be extremely difficult to pass. Therefore, whoever ultimately forms the government, the AfD will be an unavoidable force in Saxony-Anhalt politics, with a direct influence on the state’s legislative process. Systemic Failures in Germany’s Governance Model The Saxony-Anhalt election result reflects a systemic failure of Germany’s post-war mainstream-party model of governance to adapt to rapidly changing socioeconomic conditions. It stems from multiple, mutually reinforcing structural tensions and highlights the existing political system’s difficulty in adapting to “an increasingly polarised society First, collective anxiety has replaced individual material hardship as a central driver of political mobilisation. The rise of the AfD can no longer be explained simply by poverty or social marginalisation. Its increasingly cross-class electoral base suggests that what is driving voters towards the party is, above all, concern about the broader direction of society. This anxiety about the future of the political community goes beyond individual gains and losses. In political discourse, economic anxiety has become closely intertwined with immigration, while immigration and refugee issues are, in essence, questions of social fairness. This perception turns conflicts over the distribution of social resources into negative assessments of governing parties, providing a broad social basis for far-right political narratives. Second, regional disparities and East German identity have undermined the strategy of addressing eastern Germany’s structural challenges at the regional level. More than three decades after German reunification, eastern states such as Saxony-Anhalt have experienced periods of economic growth, but their underlying economic structures remain weak, and household incomes and wealth remain significantly below those in western Germany. At the same time, they continue to face population outflow, an ageing population, labour shortages, and other structural challenges. At a deeper level, historical experiences — including the collapse of the former East German economic system, mass unemployment during the transition, and the westward shift of decision-making power over major issues — have left some residents with a sense of being “second-class citizens” and of being excluded. For years, the German government treated the “syndrome” of reunification as a regional problem to be gradually addressed at the local level. That approach is becoming increasingly unsustainable, as regional development disparities emerge as a core structural factor shaping national politics. Third, the erosion of institutional trust is perhaps the most decisive factor. AfD supporters tend to distrust establishment institutions, including parliament, government, and the mainstream media. Their concerns about economic security, pensions, and social fairness are significantly greater than the social average. Increasingly, their support for the AfD reflects not an expectation that the existing system can be improved, but a search for an alternative to the current political order. Such a systemic deficit of trust will be extremely difficult for the traditional parties to repair in the short term. Fourth, a generational shift in political mobilisation has amplified political polarisation. Unlike traditional parties, which rely heavily on offline rallies and mainstream media coverage, the AfD has developed a social-media mobilisation strategy built around “raising an issue — identifying who is responsible — offering a simplified solution — building a shared identity”. It turns complex social tensions into concise political narratives, rapidly channelling public sentiment into political support. The contrast on the eve of the election was particularly telling. The establishment parties, together with trade unions and churches, organised an offline march attended by more than 10,000 people, but its reach was largely confined to those present and to traditional media coverage. The AfD held a much smaller indoor event, yet livestreaming on TikTok, YouTube, and other platforms, combined with the involvement of online influencers, gave it a reach and mobilising capacity far beyond that of the march. The contrast illustrates how the traditional parties’ methods of political mobilisation are increasingly struggling to keep pace with a political environment transformed by changes in media technology. A Microcosm of Structural Political Change in Europe The shockwaves from the Saxony-Anhalt election quickly travelled beyond the state to the federal level. Calls for political accountability followed immediately after the results were announced. The governing CDU and SPD are now under enormous pressure, while Chancellor Friedrich Merz and Vice Chancellor Lars Klingbeil face an unprecedented test. Political polarisation in Germany is no longer simply a regional phenomenon. The post-war model of multiparty government by establishment parties is breaking down and being reshaped. Viewed in a broader European context, the Saxony-Anhalt election is part of a continent-wide wave of party polarisation, mainstream-party decline, and rising right-wing forces. Far from an isolated phenomenon, it is a microcosm of the structural political changes unfolding across Europe. Weak economic growth, cultural tensions over immigration, and declining trust in institutions are fuelling the rise of right-wing forces in several countries, challenging the liberal internationalist order established in post-war Europe. As a core member state of the European Union, Germany’s ability to adapt its political system and the direction of its politics will have profound implications for both European integration and the evolution of the international order. Subscribe [ Pekingnology China’s Germany watchers take stock of Berlin’s uneasy turn On 7 December 2025, nearly 50 Chinese scholars and policy researchers gathered in Beijing for the 2025年德国形势年终研讨会 “2025 Year-End Seminar on the Situation in Germany… Read more 9 months ago · 31 likes · 1 comment · YIRUI LI and Yuxuan JIA ](https://www.pekingnology.com/p/chinas-germany-watchers-take-stock?utm_source=substack&utm_campaign=post_embed&utm_medium=web&embedding_publication_id=1151841) [ Jiang Feng on Germany's 2025 and beyond: no easy exit ](https://www.eastisread.com/p/jiang-feng-on-germanys-2025-and-beyond) Yirui LI and Yuxuan JIA · Jan 24 The following is an op-ed by Jiang Feng, published on 29 December 2025 at Shanghai Observer 上观新闻, the digital platform of Jiefang Daily, the official newspaper of the Shanghai Municipal Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC). [ Read full story ](https://www.eastisread.com/p/jiang-feng-on-germanys-2025-and-beyond)
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