The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) is on track for a significant victory in the eastern state of Saxony-Anhalt, according to initial election projections. The party is currently expected to capture more than 44% of the vote, placing it well ahead of the conservative Christian Democratic Union (CDU), which is trailing at 18.4%.
While it remains uncertain whether these results will grant the AfD enough seats to form a government, the party has declared the outcome a “historic result.” Ulrich Siegmund, the party’s charismatic state leader, has explicitly stated he will not enter into governing coalitions with any other political party. “We have made history in this state,” Siegmund remarked following the projections.
The political landscape in Saxony-Anhalt, a state with a population of 2.1 million, is complex. Domestic intelligence agencies have classified the state branch of the AfD as “right-wing extremist,” a designation that Siegmund has consistently rejected. No far-right party has held state-level power in Germany since the end of World War Two. Securing such a position would grant the party authority over regional policing, education, and cultural policy.
The final seat distribution remains dependent on whether smaller parties manage to clear the 5% threshold required to enter the state parliament. If the populist left-wing BSW party fails to meet this requirement, the AfD’s path to a majority could become more viable. The BSW has previously indicated a willingness to cooperate with the AfD on specific issues.
Sven Schulze, the CDU’s lead candidate in the state, conceded the loss, describing the election as an “extremely tough and intensive” campaign. Meanwhile, national leaders are reacting to the broader implications of the vote. Lars Klingbeil, leader of the centre-left SPD—which governs in a national coalition with the CDU—labeled the result “truly dramatic” and a clear “signal to Berlin.”
Voter turnout was notably high, estimated at 78%. Supporters gathered at the AfD headquarters in Magdeburg erupted in cheers and sang the national anthem as the projections appeared on screens. One attendee, identified as Ollie, praised Siegmund for addressing the needs of working people, telling reporters that the party represents a genuine alternative for Germany.
Despite the AfD’s strong performance, other mainstream parties continue to maintain a “firewall” policy, refusing to enter into formal governing coalitions with the far-right group. This strategy previously prevented the AfD from taking power in the neighboring state of Thuringia following their 2024 election win.
The AfD currently leads national opinion polls, outpacing both the Social Democrats and the conservatives led by Chancellor Friedrich Merz. However, the party’s strongest support base remains concentrated within Germany’s eastern states, where they continue to dominate the political discourse. The report also notes that and Siegmund along with joint national leaders Alice Weidel and Tino Chrupalla were overjoyed as the news emerged, the AfD’s projected result is higher than earlier opinion polls suggested. The report also notes that the party’s supporters believe they are on the march, although the outcome was initially unclear. The report also notes that one man called Ollie said: “This man gives us what no-one else can give. The report also notes that they all just promise things to get better, no matter what government.
