India, Sept. 24 -- Elections in three German states this month have altered the country's political landscape. The Alternative for Germany (AfD), has effectively broken through in eastern Germany. The ruling Christian Democratic Union (CDU) stands diminished. In Berlin, voter unhappiness shifted to the Left rather than the Right. Altogether, these elections show that, though Chancellor Friedrich Merz is unpopular, the deeper manifestation is of a German socio-economic model under demographic and political challenge. The political centre appears to be unable to marshal discontent.

In Saxony-Anhalt, the AfD cornered 43.8% of the votes, almost doubling its 2021 vote share. It has 39 seats, just three short of a majority. The CDU fell to 17....