Germany‘s right-leaning Alternative for Germany (AfD) has scored a major election victory in the eastern state of Saxony-Anhalt. The party won about 43.8% of the vote, according to preliminary results. The conservative Christian Democratic Union (CDU) came a distant second with 17.2%. Despite its strong result, the AfD did not win enough seats to govern alone.
The party is expected to hold 39 of the 83 seats in the state parliament. It needs three more seats for a majority. AfD state leader Ulrich Siegmund described the result as “sensational”. He said voters had given the party a clear mandate to govern.
However, forming a government could be difficult. Germany’s established parties have refused to work with the AfD. The only possible exception is the left-wing populist BSW, which is expected to win five seats.
One possible option is an informal agreement between the AfD and BSW. This could allow the AfD to lead a minority government. Siegmund has said he would prefer not to govern without a majority. He has also suggested that another election could be held if no agreement is reached.
The result is one of the most significant victories for the AfD. State governments have control over areas such as policing, education and culture.
The party is particularly strong in eastern Germany. Domestic intelligence authorities in Saxony-Anhalt classify the state branch as “right-wing extremist”. Siegmund rejects that description.
The election also attracted international attention. US President Donald Trump shared a post about the result. Russian official Kirill Dmitriev praised the AfD’s performance. Poland’s Prime Minister Donald Tusk, however, strongly criticised the victory.
The AfD’s success comes as the party continues to gain support across Germany. It currently leads several national opinion polls.
Some of the party’s policies, including its call for “remigration”, have been described by critics as possibly involving large-scale deportations of migrants. However, the AfD says the policy mainly concerns people living in Germany illegally or those convicted of crimes.
With turnout reaching 77.8%, the vote has become an important political moment for Germany. The result could increase pressure on mainstream parties as they decide how to respond to the AfD’s growing influence.
