In brief
The far‑right Alternative for Germany (AfD) secured 43.8% of the vote in the Saxony‑Anhalt state elections, falling three seats short of an outright majority. Despite this, leaders from the AfD have announced outreach to other parties and individual MPs to form a governing coalition. This historic win marks the first time the AfD has come close to ruling a German state, raising concerns about the party’s potential influence on policing, education, and local governance. Conservative long‑time opposition, the CDU, won 17.2% of the vote, prompting discussions on whether to cooperate with right‑wing extremists. The outcome underscores the volatility of German politics and highlights the need for careful scrutiny of coalition dynamics in a landscape increasingly divided by extremist forces.
The far‑right Alternative for Germany (AfD) is "very, very close" to taking power, its deputy parliamentary leader said, following a historic victory in the Saxony‑Anhalt state elections. Preliminary results show the party fell three seats short of an outright majority, with 43.8% of the vote, and is now seeking support from other parties or independent MPs to govern.
While most German parties refuse to cooperate with the AfD, figures like Beatrix von Storch have urged opponents to enter talks, arguing that "you cannot say I do not accept the vote of the people". A refusal could lead to severe chaos or a new election, she warned.
In a press conference, Ulrich Siegmund, the AfD’s leader in Saxony‑Anhalt, announced the party’s win as a "clear mandate to govern". Saxony‑Anhalt, with a population of 2.1 million, has the AfD classified as "right‑wing extremist" by domestic intelligence, a label Siegmund disputes.
Discussions with other parties began on Sunday night and could involve days or weeks of negotiation. "We reach out to everybody first, we will have consultations, and then we'll see whether individual parliamentary groups or MPs will help us," said Siegmund.
The AfD holds 39 seats in the 83‑seat state parliament, three seats shy of the 42 needed for a majority. The CDU, the largest party in the state’s outgoing coalition and in Germany’s federal government, won 17.2% of the vote.
