The far-right party Alternative for Germany (AfD) has secured a major victory in the elections for the eastern German state of Saxony-Anhalt. However, the party failed to achieve a sufficient majority to form a government on its own.
According to preliminary results, the AfD won 43.8 percent of the vote, while the ruling conservative Christian Democratic Union (CDU) received 17.2 percent. In the 83-seat state parliament, the AfD is projected to win approximately 39 seats, while 42 seats are required for an absolute majority.
Ulrich Siegmund, the top AfD leader in the state, described the results as "extraordinary" and claimed that voters have given the party a mandate to govern. However, lacking a majority, complex negotiations for government formation lie ahead. Siegmund has for now ruled out the possibility of leading a minority government and mentioned the possibility of new elections if necessary.
Saxony-Anhalt has a population of approximately 2.1 million. The country's domestic intelligence agency has classified the state branch of the AfD as a "right-wing extremist" organization, though Siegmund has rejected this categorization.
Discussions are now underway regarding the left-wing populist party BSW as a potential coalition partner for the AfD. The party is projected to win five seats and favors resuming gas imports from Russia alongside a strict stance on immigration, while keeping open the possibility of cooperation with the AfD on certain issues.
Since the Second World War, no state government in Germany has come under the control of a far-right party. If able to form a local government, the AfD would gain authority over critical areas such as policing, education, and culture.
Political analysts view this victory by the AfD as an indicator of significant shifts in German politics, with the party also leading in opinion polls at the national level. However, mainstream parties have long maintained a "firewall" policy of refusing to form coalitions with the AfD.
Voter turnout in the Saxony-Anhalt election was 77.8 percent. In the neighboring state of Thuringia, the AfD also won the most votes in the 2024 elections but was unable to form a government due to a lack of a majority.
