Europe facing ‘grave moment’ as far-right AfD wins German poll and pledges to work with Elon Musk

Mainstream politicians express alarm while lead candidate in Saxony-Anhalt welcomes strong' cooperation with Musk

• AfD wins key German state election but falls just short of majority

Mainstream politicians around Europe have expressed alarm after the far-right Alternative fur Deutschland (AfD) swept to a historic state election victory in Germany, while nationalist figures cheered the result as a mandate for change.

While falling just short of an absolute majority, the AfD surged into first place in the Saxony-Anhalt state election on Sunday, exit polls showed, putting the far right within reach of power at the state level for the first time since the second world war.