The far-right AfD secured its strongest performance in a German state election but lacks the seats to govern alone, as mainstream parties maintain their refusal to form a coalition.
Key facts
- •The AfD won 39 seats, while the CDU secured 15, the SPD, Greens, and Left Party each won eight, and the BSW took five.
- •The AfD's 43.8% vote share more than doubled its 20.8% performance in the 2021 election.
- •Germany's domestic intelligence agency has classified the Saxony-Anhalt branch of the AfD as a proven right-wing extremist organization.
- •State governments in Germany oversee education, domestic security, and hold seats in the Bundesrat, the country's upper house.
The Alternative for Germany (AfD) won 43.8% of the vote in Sunday's election in Saxony-Anhalt, marking a record victory for the party. Despite this result, the AfD secured 39 of the 83 seats in the state parliament, falling three seats short of the 42 required for an outright majority. Mainstream parties have ruled out forming a coalition with the AfD, leaving the state facing complex negotiations to form a government.
By the numbers
Election Results and Parliamentary Shift
The election saw a significant shift in political power, with the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) falling to 17.2% of the vote, its worst result in the state after 24 years of governance. Other parties also secured seats: the Social Democrats (SPD) received 9.3%, the Greens 8.9%, the Left Party 8.6%, and the Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance (BSW) 5.3%. The Free Democrats failed to reach the threshold for representation. Turnout reached 77.8%, the highest in the state since German reunification in 1990. The AfD's lead candidate, Ulrich Siegmund, stated the party is prepared to work with any politicians supporting their policy demands, though CDU general secretary Franziska Hoppermann reiterated the party's refusal to cooperate with the AfD, citing its classification as a right-wing extremist organization.
Policy Positions and Governing Challenges
The AfD campaigned on issues including immigration, specifically calling for a 'remigration' policy and a 'deportation offensive.' The party also advocates for allowing home schooling, displaying the national flag in schools, and withdrawing the state from the regional public broadcaster. On foreign policy, the AfD opposes German support for Ukraine and seeks the lifting of sanctions against Russia. Forming a government remains difficult as no clear majority coalition exists among the other parties. The AfD could theoretically reach a majority only with support from the BSW. Exploratory talks are expected to begin in the coming days.
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This article was independently rewritten by ManyPress editorial AI from reporting originally published by Daily Sabah.
