Germany’s far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) is projected to win a strong victory in the regional election in Saxony-Anhalt, potentially securing the country’s first far-right state government since World War II. Based on exit polls and early counting, the AfD is expected to receive around 44% of the vote, more than doubling its support from five years ago. While the result is a significant gain for the AfD, The projected outcome represents a major setback for Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s Christian Democratic Union (CDU), which has governed Saxony-Anhalt for 24 years and is now projected to receive only 18.5% of the vote.
AfD candidate Ulrich Siegmund, 35, declared “we have written history,” and attributed the party’s success to widespread discontent with the national government and its handling of the economy. He specifically thanked Merz, stating he had been “a very good campaigner for us.” AfD national co-leader Alice Weidel described the projected result as “sensational” and asserted a “clear mandate to govern.”
The AfD’s regional branch in Saxony-Anhalt is classified by domestic intelligence agencies as a right-wing extremist group, a designation the party vehemently rejects. The projected win could overcome the so-called firewall of mainstream parties’ refusal to work with AfD. The party’s platform includes mass deportations, changes to migration and education policy, closer ties with Russia, and alignment with the MAGA movement in the United States.
The CDU’s dramatic loss of support—halving its share of the vote—has left incumbent governor Sven Schulze visibly disappointed. The Left Party, Social Democrats, and Greens are projected to receive around 9% each, while it is uncertain if the BSW party will surpass the 5% threshold for parliamentary seats. The AfD’s success at the regional level mirrors its growing strength nationally, where it is currently the largest opposition party and polling first. Whether the AfD can ultimately form a government remains to be seen, but the election result signals a significant shift in the political landscape of eastern Germany and poses a challenge to the established political order.
Read the original coverage
💬 Comments
📜 Comment Policy