Germany's Alternative for Germany (AfD) is projected to achieve a significant victory in the eastern state of Saxony-Anhalt, leading with approximately 44% of the vote according to exit polls. The conservative CDU is expected to follow with around 17%. Although the AfD is projected to fall short of a majority, party leaders claim they have received a mandate to govern.
Ulrich Siegmund, the AfD's leader in Saxony-Anhalt, described the results as 'sensational' and expressed a desire to begin governing immediately. No far-right party has controlled a German state since World War II, and gaining state-level governance would grant the AfD authority over areas such as policing and education.
The population of Saxony-Anhalt is approximately 2.1 million, and the AfD has been classified as 'right-wing extremist' by domestic intelligence, a designation that Siegmund disputes. He, along with national leaders Alice Weidel and Tino Chrupalla, celebrated the exit polls, which indicate a doubling of the party's previous election result in 2021.
Commentators have referred to the election outcome as a significant shift in German politics. Siegmund stated, 'This isn't just about Saxony-Anhalt; it's a signal for the whole of Germany.'
US President Donald Trump shared the election projections on his social media platform, while Russian envoy Kirill Dmitriev praised the AfD's performance. In contrast, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk criticized the result, stating that only 'idiots and traitors' would celebrate the AfD's success.
Despite not securing enough seats for a majority, Siegmund has declined to lead a minority government, although he remains open to collaboration with individual MPs or parties. The AfD is expected to secure 39 seats in the 83-seat state parliament.
Voter turnout in Saxony-Anhalt was reported at 76.7%. Supporters celebrated the results, with some expressing their belief in the party's ability to address their concerns.
Other political parties have indicated they will not form coalitions with the AfD, maintaining a strategy to prevent the far-right party from gaining power. The AfD has been critical of certain cultural institutions and has proposed controversial policies regarding migration.
Demonstrators opposing the AfD have expressed concerns about the party's rise, with some calling for a reflection on Germany's historical context. Charlotte Knobloch, a Holocaust survivor, voiced her fears regarding the election outcome, urging mainstream parties to take action against the AfD's influence.