The populist, anti-immigration Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) has achieved a historic victory in the Saxony-Anhalt state election, with exit polls projecting the party to secure 44.4% of the vote. This result marks a significant surge for the far-right group, which has nearly doubled its 2021 performance of 23.7%. While the outcome positions the AfD as a dominant political force, the party appears to have fallen short of an absolute majority, complicating its path to governance.
The Christian Democrats (CDU), led by Chancellor Friedrich Merz, trailed significantly with approximately 18.4% of the vote. Other parties also faced a difficult night, with the far-left Die Linke securing 9.3%, the Greens at 8.7%, and the Social Democrats at 8.4%. Notably, the BSW, an offshoot of Die Linke, managed to surpass the 5% threshold required to re-enter the state parliament, defying earlier expectations.
Voter turnout reached a record high of 76.5% among the 1.7 million eligible voters in the state. Despite the strong showing, the AfD faces a “firewall” from mainstream parties, including the CDU, which have consistently refused to enter into coalition agreements with them. The AfD has similarly ruled out governing with other parties, and the organization itself remains classified as a “rightwing extremist” entity by Germany’s domestic intelligence agency.
Ulrich Siegmund, the AfD’s lead candidate, celebrated the result by declaring, “We have made history in this country.” Speaking to the broadcaster ARD, the 35-year-old politician expressed a willingness to engage with other “democratic forces” to pursue policy changes, specifically highlighting migration and domestic security as non-negotiable priorities. He also criticized Chancellor Merz, labeling him a “very good campaigner for the AfD” amid reports of widespread voter dissatisfaction with the current federal leadership.
The CDU leadership characterized the results as a “bitter” defeat. General Secretary Franziska Hoppermann described the outcome as a failure for both the party and the broader democratic establishment that has governed the region for the past 35 years. While analysts suggest the result puts pressure on Merz’s political future, the CDU has maintained its refusal to cooperate with the AfD.
AfD co-leader Alice Weidel argued that the results provide her party with a “clear government mandate” and indicated that they would initiate talks with all parties to explore potential strategies for power. Should the AfD succeed in forming a government, Siegmund has outlined an ambitious agenda, including a “remigration” and deportation offensive, a ban on rainbow flags in schools, and the cessation of new wind farm construction. He has also proposed renaming the state slogan to “Think German” and mandating the singing of the national anthem in schools.
The campaign period was marked by high tensions and significant public demonstrations. In Magdeburg, thousands gathered for a “festival of democracy” to oppose the AfD, while the city’s cathedral displayed a message rejecting the party’s vision of patriotism. Bishop Gerhard Feige warned congregants against forces seeking to “sow discord, stoke mistrust and fear,” cautioning that “not everyone who votes or is elected democratically is a democrat.”
Economic concerns also loom large. The German Economic Institute has warned that the AfD’s proposed immigration policies could prove “calamitous” for Saxony-Anhalt, a region with an aging population that relies heavily on foreign labor. Furthermore, the AfD’s pro-Kremlin stance—which includes calls to end support for Ukraine and strip refugees of their status—has drawn sharp criticism. Despite these warnings, the party continues to gain momentum, with eyes set on future federal elections. The report also notes that the AfD now appear on the brink of becoming the first far-right party to gain power in Germany at state level since the second world war. The report also notes that a larger share than predicted, and decisively larger than that of the Christian Democrats (CDU) of the chancellor, Friedrich Merz, in a contest that was being followed across the world, initial exit polls showed the party to have secured 44.4% of the vote. The report also notes that however, it still remains unclear as to how and whether the AfD will be able to form a government, having ruled out entering a coalition and being refused any form of cooperation by the mainstream parties. The report also notes that but it appeared initially that the AfD might have failed to secure an absolute majority – the condition it has said is central to it taking power, given its refusal to govern with another party, votes are still being counted. The report also notes that “We extend a hand to all democratic forces that wish to pursue better policies,” a beaming Siegmund, 35, said after exit polls had been published. The report also notes that “And it is also a defeat for all those who have borne responsibility in the democracy in Saxony-Anhalt over the past 35 years,” she added, in reference to the difficult post-communist era. The report also notes that only 9% of voters in Saxony-Anhalt said they were satisfied with Merz’s politics, in one recent poll.