The populist, far-right Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) has achieved a historic result in the Saxony-Anhalt state election, with exit polls projecting the party secured 44.4% of the vote. This performance, which significantly exceeded pre-election predictions, signals a potential turning point in German politics, as the party nears the possibility of gaining state-level power for the first time since the second world war.
Voter participation reached a record high of 76.5% as citizens headed to the polls. Despite the strong showing, the AfD may fall short of an absolute majority, a threshold the party previously identified as essential for governance given its refusal to form coalitions with other political groups. The Christian Democrats (CDU), led by Chancellor Friedrich Merz, trailed significantly with approximately 18.4% of the vote. Other results included the far-left Die Linke at 9.3%, the Greens at 8.7%, and the Social Democrats at 8.4%. Notably, the BSW, an offshoot of Die Linke, surpassed expectations by clearing the 5% hurdle required to re-enter parliament.
Ulrich Siegmund, the AfD’s lead candidate in the state, celebrated the outcome by telling supporters, “We have made history in this country.” While speaking to the broadcaster ARD, he expressed a willingness to engage with other democratic forces seeking political change, while emphasizing that issues like migration and domestic security remain non-negotiable for his party. Co-leader Alice Weidel claimed the results provide a “clear government mandate” and indicated the party would explore strategies to govern.
The path to power remains obstructed by a “brandmauer,” or firewall, maintained by mainstream parties that have consistently refused to cooperate with the AfD. The party is currently classified as “rightwing extremist” by Germany’s domestic intelligence agency, an institution the AfD has criticized as biased and vowed to reform. The CDU, describing the result as a “bitter” defeat, reaffirmed its commitment to excluding the AfD from any coalition.
Franziska Hoppermann, the CDU’s general secretary, characterized the election as a failure for those responsible for the state’s governance over the last 35 years. Meanwhile, analysts have begun questioning the political future of Chancellor Merz, whose party has struggled to address economic concerns or curb the AfD’s steady rise since 2017. Recent polling suggests only 9% of voters in the region are satisfied with his current political direction.
Should the AfD succeed in forming a government, Siegmund has outlined an ambitious agenda, including a push for mass deportations, the prohibition of rainbow flags in schools, and a moratorium on new wind farm construction. He has also proposed renaming the state’s slogan to “Think German” and mandating the singing of the national anthem in schools. Throughout his campaign, Siegmund leveraged nostalgia for East Germany and voiced concerns over crime, despite data showing a decline in local crime rates.
The AfD’s platform remains controversial, particularly its pro-Kremlin stance, which includes calls to end support for Ukraine and strip Ukrainian refugees of their status. Ahead of the vote, tensions were palpable across the state, marked by a heavy police presence and large-scale demonstrations. In Magdeburg, thousands gathered for a “festival of democracy,” while a message projected onto the city’s cathedral declared that true love of the homeland is not represented by the AfD.
Religious leaders also weighed in on the political climate. Bishop Gerhard Feige of Magdeburg warned congregants against forces attempting to foster mistrust and fear. “Not everyone who votes or is elected democratically is a democrat,” he cautioned, highlighting the potential for democratic systems to be undermined from within.
Economic concerns have also taken center stage. 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. As vote counting continues, the state, which has been governed by a CDU-led coalition since 2002, faces an uncertain political future. 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 “We extend a hand to all democratic forces that wish to pursue better policies,” a beaming Siegmund 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 siegmund on Sunday evening called Merz “a very good campaigner for the AfD”. The report also notes that about 1.7 million people were eligible to vote in the east-central state of 2.1 million residents.
