1,788,930 Saxony-Anhalt residents are called on September 6th to vote on the future composition of the state parliament.
The election is being watched with particular attention because, with the AfD, a party that is classified by the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution as “certainly right-wing extremist” could be involved in forming a government for the first time. She could even get an absolute majority.
You can find all articles on the topic on our topic page about the state elections in Saxony-Anhalt.
In addition to our own research, we also use material from the news agencies AP, AFP, epd, dpa, KNA and Reuters.
State election 2026: Results of the election in Saxony-Anhalt
Distribution of votes: extrapolation
78.0% voter turnout • As of: 7 p.m. •
Source:
AfD
44.3% +23.5
'21 2026
CDU
18.3% −18.8
Left
9.2% −1.8
SPD
8.7% +0.3
Greens
8.7% +2.8
BSW
4.8% –
FDP
2.4% −4.0
Possible coalitions
Majority with 42 seats
CDU + SPD + Greens + Left (toleration)
42 seats
AfD alone
41 seats
CDU + SPD + Greens
33 seats
Constituencies
0 / 41 counted out
Sarah Kohler
Brandtner sees Berlin as responsible
The Green Party leader Franziska Brantner has admitted that federal politicians share responsibility for the election results. “We no longer need these old-fashioned debates, but we need to show that we can build something here again,” she said, referring to the federal political debates of the past few weeks. »We see nationwide dissatisfaction with this government and the state of Germany as a whole. And we have to start by saying: People, let's tackle it together, bring it together, and see how we can get out of this country what's in it," she said.
Brantner is ambivalent about the election results. »On the one hand, I am of course very happy that we have become strong, that it was worth fighting for, and that many people fought with us. And when I see the result of the AfD, I just feel like crying," she said.
Luis Kumpfmüller
Reichinnek sees responsibility for the election results as the federal government
The parliamentary group leader of the Left in the Bundestag, Heidi Reichinnek, described the result of the state elections in Saxony-Anhalt as “catastrophic”. The federal government bears the main responsibility for this. The AfD is not so strong "because it has such good concepts," but because the federal government is doing everything it can to "prepare the breeding ground for it," said Reichinnek at Phoenix.
With a view to possible cooperation with the CDU in Saxony-Anhalt, Reichinnek said: "The Union will always find a reason not to work with us for social justice." But it should "slowly think about which side of history it actually wants to be on." The Left Party has always said very clearly "that we are ready to work with all democratic forces," Reichinnek added on ARD. Of course, they want to “do everything they can to keep the AfD out of power.” But “a few more people need to get involved.” They don't want to support "AfD-light politics" and don't want to "sell themselves cheaply."
Pia Schreiber
“When the CDU bar stopped at 18.5 percent, I knew: that was it!”
Niklas, Tom, Leonard and Igor stand undecided on the sidelines of the meeting at the Steintor in Halle. “When the CDU bar stopped at 18.5 percent, I knew: that was it,” says Niklas. »The blue bar is right at the top.«
The five friends are shocked, but also amazed at their shock. »I knew this could happen. But somehow I didn’t think so,” says Niklas. “I was sure, rock solid,” Igor contradicts. His stomach turned, and so did his head. Niklas is worried that the AfD could now be made an example of. “To people with disabilities, to migrants – that they want to prove how tough they are.” Tom sighs. »Maybe I have to go back to Schleswig-Holstein after all.«
Alena Kammer
Kubicki speaks of a bitter day for the FDP
The FDP, which was previously part of the state government, is below the five percent threshold in the projections by ARD and ZDF. The FDP chairman Wolfgang Kubicki was disappointed by his party's departure. "This is a bitter day for the entire party and, interestingly, it is also a bitter day for me," he said. "I would have liked a different result, but wishes don't come true on a regular basis." It was another election defeat this year.
Wolfgang Kubicki, FDP federal chairman. Fabian Sommer/dpa
Jonah Spreter
AfD mobilizes more than 150,000 non-voters
The AfD benefits from the exceptionally high voter turnout in Saxony-Anhalt. According to an analysis by ARD, eligible voters who did not vote in the 2021 state election now mainly chose the AfD. The party gained around 157,000 votes. Another 83,000 votes went from the CDU to the AfD.
Marlena Wessollek
BSW remains below five percent in the second ZDF projection
According to the ZDF projection from 7 p.m., the AfD is still clearly ahead. In contrast to the first projection, the SPD is behind the Left. The BSW is missing 0.2 percent for the state parliament.
CDU: 18.3 percent
AfD: 44.3 percent
The Left: 9.2 percent
SPD: 8.7 percent
FDP: 2.4 percent
Greens: 8.7 percent
BSW: 4.8 percent
Other: 3.6 percent
Sarah Kohler
Bas rules out talks with the AfD
SPD federal chairwoman Bärbel Bas did not want to speak of a defeat on ARD in view of the SPD result. "A few weeks ago we were completely written off and that was a really tough fight in which the SPD also mobilized nationwide to prevent the AfD government," she said.
Bas ruled out talks with the AfD Saxony-Anhalt. »The SPD will under no circumstances accept an invitation because it is definitely a right-wing extremist regional association. And the SPD won’t have any talks with him,” she said. »The result scares many people. “Not just in Saxony-Anhalt, but also throughout Germany,” she said. »This is actually also about whether we can form a democratic majority in this federal state, but also nationwide in the future. And that is the task of the SPD.«
Mariya Martiyenko
Magdeburg
Hope for the postal votes
People on Cathedral Square in Magdeburg update the news pages on their cell phones. Some cry. A woman with her little daughter has her hand to her mouth and shakes her head. Tears stream down her cheeks. “It’s incredibly scary,” she says. Nevertheless, she says: "I'm still optimistic." These are just the first forecasts. She takes a deep breath. “The postal voting documents have not yet been counted.”
“We stay colorful,” people in Magdeburg wrote on the ground. Mariya Martiyenko/TIME
Voter turnout in Tangermünde was significantly higher than in other years
Voter turnout is also very high at the polling station where AfD leading candidate Ulrich Siegmund cast his vote this morning. While in recent years participation was between 40 and 50 percent, today it is 73.4 percent.
A polling station in Tangermünde. Michael Kappeler/dpa
Alena Kammer
The second ARD projection sees BSW at five percent
The second ARD projection still sees a clear election victory for the AfD, but not an absolute majority. BSW and the Greens also make it into the state parliament.
CDU: 18.4
AfD: 44.4
Left: 9.3
SPD: 8.4
FDP: 2.2
Greens: 8.7
BSW: 5.0
Other 3.6
Luis Kumpfmüller
AfD state leader Reichardt is open to talks
The AfD state chairman in Saxony-Anhalt, Martin Reichardt, has signaled openness to discussions with other parties. “We will talk to those who have one thing or another in common with us,” said Reichardt at Phoenix. The AfD has been given the task of “forming the government if necessary.” Now we want to do politics with those “who, in case of doubt, are prepared to do the best for Saxony-Anhalt and also for Germany,” said Reichardt. In this sense, the AfD has made “offers for discussion”.
Marlena Wessollek
According to Klüssendorf, there is currently no question of SPD leadership
After the state elections in Saxony-Anhalt, SPD General Secretary Tim Klüssendorf does not want to lead a debate about the SPD leadership. Whether Lars Klingbeil and Bärbel Bas should give up the party leadership, "that's really not a question I'm asking myself right now," said Klüssendorf. In view of the AfD's election results, he spoke of a turning point. The SPD's result is an "important sign of stability."
Sarah Kohler
Schulze does not clearly support the firewall
The incumbent CDU Prime Minister Sven Schulze described the election results as a “bitter blow” for the CDU. However, he also spoke of this being “democracy”. More people voted in Saxony-Anhalt than ever before.
Schulze answered the question about the firewall evasively. He did not clearly say in the affirmative whether the CDU in Saxony-Anhalt stands apart from the AfD. He announced that the CDU wanted to analyze the result next week.
Sven Schulze (CDU), incumbent Prime Minister of Saxony-Anhalt. Jens Schlueter/Getty Images
He was also hesitant to dismiss the possible concern that CDU MPs could switch to the AfD. He also did not answer his willingness to form a broad government if the AfD does not get an absolute majority.
Alena Kammer
Chrupalla clearly sees Siegmund as the new Prime Minister
AfD co-leader Tino Chrupalla sees a government mandate for his party. “Ulrich Siegmund will be the new Prime Minister of Saxony-Anhalt,” said Chrupalla. Chrupalla spoke of a “sensational result”. When asked whether a sole government was the only option, he said: "We have always said that we would extend a hand to anyone who meant well for Saxony-Anhalt."
“From here we will change Germany.”
AfD co-leader Tino Chrupalla
Chrupalla also spoke of a clear decision to Berlin that things cannot continue like this with the federal government. Prime Minister Schulze has clearly been voted out. »The firewall policy has failed. We are the clear winner. It is a clear vote of the citizens.«
The AfD federal chairmen Alice Weidel (left) and Tino Chrupalla (right) celebrate with Ulrich Siegmund, AfD's top candidate in Saxony-Anhalt. Michael Kappeler/dpa
Magdalena Inou
Dessau-Roßlau
Spectators laugh at anti-fascist demonstrators
The anti-fascist demonstration in Dessau moves on to Karlstrasse. There are people looking out of the windows and balconies from the left and right. Many of them laugh loudly, some mockingly, most of them film with their cell phones. But that doesn't produce any particular reaction from the demonstrators, they're just used to a lot.
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