Germany’s Alternative for Germany has won the state election in Saxony-Anhalt with about 44% of the vote, putting the party in first place by a wide margin and raising the prospect of a far-right state government for the first time in postwar Germany. Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s CDU finished second on about 18%.

Exit polls and early projections showed the AfD more than doubling its 23.7% share from the 2021 election.

The result gave the party its strongest state-level performance since its founding in 2013. Whether it will govern remains unclear because the final distribution of seats depends on the performance of smaller parties.

AfD lead candidate Ulrich Siegmund told supporters in Magdeburg that the party had “made history in this state”.

“We have achieved exactly what we wanted to achieve,” he said after the polls closed.

The AfD said the result gave it a mandate to govern. Party co-leader Alice Weidel described the result as historic and said the party would speak with other political groups about the formation of a government.

Germany’s main parties continue to reject governing with the AfD under the political “firewall” intended to keep the party out of coalition governments.

The CDU suffered a major defeat after governing Saxony-Anhalt since 2002. Its state leader, Sven Schulze, conceded that the election had been difficult and said the party would have to respond to the result.

CDU general secretary Franziska Hoppermann called the outcome a defeat for the party but rejected suggestions that Merz’s position should be reconsidered.

The result places further pressure on Friedrich Merz, whose federal coalition with the Social Democrats has struggled with weak economic growth and falling public support.

Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil, who also leads the SPD, said voters had sent a “signal to Berlin”.

Turnout was high. The Guardian reported participation at 76.5%, while other projections placed it closer to 78%. Reuters cited broadcaster ZDF as estimating turnout above 80% during counting.

Saxony-Anhalt has about 2.1 million residents and formed part of communist East Germany before reunification.

The AfD has built much of its strongest support in eastern Germany. The party also recorded gains in western states earlier this year and now leads some national opinion polls ahead of the next federal election, due in 2029.

A recent INSA poll placed the AfD on 28% nationally and the conservatives on 20%.

The AfD campaigned on tighter immigration controls, changes to education and cultural policy, opposition to new wind farms and closer relations with Russia.

Siegmund has also promoted a “remigration” policy. The party says the term refers to deporting people who are in Germany illegally or have committed crimes. Critics argue the policy risks extending beyond those groups.

The AfD branch in Saxony-Anhalt has been classified as right-wing extremist by the state domestic intelligence service. The party rejects that designation.

A possible route to power will depend on the final seat count and whether smaller parties enter parliament.

The left-wing BSW crossed the 5% threshold in some early projections. The party has ruled out a formal coalition with the AfD but has worked with it on selected policy questions.

If the AfD fails to secure an absolute majority and no party agrees to govern with it, the CDU and other parties would need to negotiate a multi-party coalition to keep the AfD out of the state government.

HT