AfD Wins German State Election in Saxony-Anhalt in Historic Far-Right Breakthrough
Germany’s far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) has won a historic victory in the eastern state of Saxony-Anhalt, emerging as the strongest political force in the state election held on September 6. The result marks one of the most significant electoral breakthroughs for the party since its creation.
According to the preliminary official results, the AfD secured 44.3% of the second vote, more than doubling its 2021 result of 20.8%. The party also won 44.8% of the first vote. Voter turnout rose sharply to about 75.5%.
The governing centre-right Christian Democratic Union (CDU), associated nationally with Chancellor Friedrich Merz, suffered a dramatic setback. The CDU received only 17.0% of the second vote, down more than 20 percentage points from 2021.
The scale of the AfD victory is particularly significant because mainstream German parties have maintained a political “firewall” against cooperation with the AfD. The party therefore won the election but did not obtain the outright parliamentary majority needed to govern alone.
AfD leader and Saxony-Anhalt candidate Ulrich Siegmund celebrated what he called a historic achievement. The party is now seeking support from conservative lawmakers, creating uncertainty over whether it can translate its electoral victory into control of the state government.
The election has also intensified pressure on Chancellor Friedrich Merz. The CDU’s collapse in a state it had governed for decades is being interpreted as a major warning about voter dissatisfaction with the federal government and the traditional political establishment.
Immigration, economic concerns, dissatisfaction with Berlin’s policies and opposition to Germany’s support for Ukraine were among the issues contributing to the AfD’s appeal. The party has also campaigned for tougher immigration policies and a substantially different approach to Germany’s relationship with Russia and the European Union.
The breakthrough is historically important because it brings the AfD closer than ever to potentially leading a German state government. However, forming such a government remains difficult because other major parties have continued to reject coalition cooperation with the AfD.
The result is therefore larger than a regional election. It strengthens the AfD’s argument that it can become a governing force in Germany and gives the party additional momentum ahead of future state elections and the 2029 federal election.
For the CDU and Chancellor Merz, meanwhile, the Saxony-Anhalt result represents a serious political challenge: the centre-right has to determine how to regain voters moving toward the AfD without breaking the longstanding political barrier against cooperation with the far-right party.
