European political shifts in France and Germany

In France, the Rassemblement National (RN) faces internal questions regarding the relationship between Marine Le Pen and Jordan Bardella. Following the departure of François Durvye, a business advisor to Bardella, speculation has arisen concerning the party's economic direction. Le Pen has announced her intention to run for the presidency again, potentially complicating Bardella's previous path toward the candidacy and raising questions about the party's unified program for the upcoming spring elections.

In Germany, the AfD achieved a significant electoral result in Sachsen-Anhalt, securing 44 percent of the vote. Analysts note that the party successfully mobilized previously inactive voters through simplified messaging and perceived approachability. The result exceeded polling expectations, as institutes failed to predict the decline of the CDU below 20 percent and the surge of the AfD above 40 percent, highlighting high voter volatility in the region.