
AI-generated summary
The AfD is classified as right-wing extremist by the Office for the Protection of the Constitution in several federal states. Alexander Gauland was federal chairman of the party from 2015 to 2019 and repeatedly made controversial statements about German history.
On this evening of September 6, 2026, it briefly seems as if there were two Germanys. The first reports are coming from Germany, which is hundreds of kilometers away from Munich's Rio cinema, that almost 44 percent of voters in Saxony-Anhalt voted for the AfD, which is classified as right-wing extremist there; i.e. the party whose former federal chairman Alexander Gauland said: “Hitler and the Nazis are just a piece of bird shit in over 1000 years of successful German history.”
AI outlook — possibilities, not facts
The AfD will try to form a government in Saxony-Anhalt or at least exert influence as the strongest faction.
Likely · Within weeks
There will be further legal policy debates about the right-wing extremist classification of the AfD.
Very likely · Within days

The AfD's victory in Saxony-Anhalt has caused concern in France, with politicians from left to center warning of the rise of the far-right party and seeing the danger of contagion for France, while Marine Le Pen is silent and her rival Sarah Knafo cheers.

The coalition of CDU, SPD and FDP lost its majority in the state elections in Saxony-Anhalt. The CDU and SPD only have 23 of the 83 seats, the FDP has been eliminated. The AfD also does not have a majority. The five representatives of the BSW could be the deciding factor in forming a government. The state parliament must be constituted within 30 days. The senior president is the longest-serving member of parliament. The rules of procedure must be re-adopted. The BSW could support the AfD by abstaining. A caretaker prime minister could remain in office until a new one is elected, possibly for years. The election of the Prime Minister follows a rigid schedule with possible dissolution options after failed ballots.

Mr. Dittrich comments on the AfD's election results in Saxony-Anhalt and sees it as a reaction to federal policy, not as a local success. He emphasizes that voters addressed the federal government due to economic standstill and job losses.

The AfD achieved 43.8 percent in Saxony-Anhalt, the best result of a party since the fall of the Wall. The CDU lost 19.9 points, while voter turnout was 77.8 percent - the highest figure since 1998 in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania.

The day before the AfD election victory in Magdeburg, long-time mayor Claus Kaminsky was bid farewell in Hanau after 23 years in office. The praise expressed for him there is seen as a counter-image to the reasons that motivate people to vote for the AfD.

Russia has ordered Germany to close its consulate general in Saint Petersburg by September 18 at the latest after Germany accused Russia of the drone attack on Leipzig/Halle Airport. In addition, all Goethe Institutes in Russia were closed and their employees were asked to leave the country by September 13th.