The AfD with top candidate Ulrich Siegmund is aiming for government after its strong performance in the state elections in Saxony-Anhalt. For the first time since the end of the Second World War, a party classified as firmly right-wing extremist could come to power in a federal state - if it finds supporters. According to projections by ARD and ZDF, it is not enough for a sole government. Prime Minister Sven Schulze's CDU is experiencing a debacle.
The left is losing votes. The Greens are gaining significantly, the SPD is roughly maintaining its share of the vote. This suggests that the formation of a government will be complicated. The BSW can hope to enter the state parliament.
According to projections, the AfD can more than double its share of the vote to 44 to 44.4 percent (2021: 20.8 percent). It would be the best result that a party has achieved in state elections in the past ten years. The CDU roughly halved its share of the vote and is heading for its worst result in a state election in Saxony-Anhalt with 17.2 to 17.4 percent (37.1).
The Left received 8.6 percent (11). The Greens are at 8.9 percent (5.9), which would be the best result in a state election in Saxony-Anhalt. The SPD achieved 9.1 to 9.2 percent (8.4). The FDP flies out of parliament with 2.5 percent (6.4). The Sahra Wagenknecht alliance stands at 5.1 to 5.2 percent.
According to the projections, the AfD will receive 39 seats in the state parliament, the CDU 15. The Left, SPD and Greens each have 8 seats. The BSW receives 5 seats.
Voter turnout is therefore 76.9 to 78.1 percent (2021: 60.3 percent) – a record. Almost 1.7 million eligible voters were allowed to vote.
Black-red-yellow government coalition at the end
A new edition of the coalition of CDU, SPD and FDP that previously governed Saxony-Anhalt is therefore ruled out. It was the only such alliance at the state level. The AfD had aimed for a sole government - but according to projections, the votes are just not enough for that. Nevertheless, it would be the party's best result in a state election. It has already been the strongest force in a state election: in Thuringia in 2024. None of the other parties in Saxony-Anhalt want to form a coalition with the AfD.
In order to continue to govern, top candidate Schulze from the CDU would have to rely, among other things, on votes from the left - similar to Saxony and Thuringia. There are also members of his party who are in favor of changing majorities - including the AfD. But the left is unlikely to accept that. Union parliamentary group vice-president Sepp Müller (CDU) said: “We have no mandate to form a government. It’s now with the AfD.”
According to the federal party conference resolution, the CDU rejects a coalition or comparable forms of cooperation with both the Left and the AfD. The line is also known as the “fire wall”.
AfD wants to govern and is not ruling out new elections
AfD top candidate Siegmund said of his party's performance: "Of course it is a government mandate." “Of course” he would also govern with just one more vote, he emphasized, contrary to his announcement during the election campaign that he only wanted to govern with a stable majority.
At the same time, the 35-year-old said that he currently sees no partners for a coalition. But he doesn't know what will happen in the next few days. "I don't know whether there are individual MPs who say: "It's over now, I'm not going to play this anymore." A lot could still happen.
AfD co-federal leader Alice Weidel also spoke of a “very clear government mandate”. Co-chief Tino Chrupalla said: “Ulrich Siegmund will definitely run as a candidate for prime minister in the state parliament, that’s for sure.”
If it doesn't work out to form a government, Siegmund believes a new election is also an option. “In an emergency there would be new elections, then we would have 50 or 55 percent,” he said on ZDF that evening.
Schulze: Defeat for the CDU
CDU top candidate Schulze – who has only been in office as prime minister since January – admitted his party's failure. “It’s a defeat for us,” said the 47-year-old. He initially left the question of possible consequences of the election defeat open. “I'm going to Berlin tomorrow, there's the federal executive committee and tomorrow evening there's the state executive committee and I'll make a procedural proposal to the CDU Saxony-Anhalt. But we will discuss that tomorrow in the state executive board.”
In the evening, Schulze was confronted with demands from his own ranks to resign as state party leader. The CDU state parliament member Eva Feußner demanded this, as did the Junge Union Saxony-Anhalt.
Schulze emphasized on MDR: “I have no plans to work with the AfD.” He had previously avoided a clear answer on ARD about the continued existence of the “firewall”. “We have decisions at the federal level, but we have a projection that hits us hard. That's why we have to deal with it first."
The head of the Union parliamentary group in the Bundestag, Thorsten Frei (CDU), viewed the election as “a turning point for our country”. “We have never had this situation before where a party that is classified as right-wing extremist by the State Office for the Protection of the Constitution has achieved a majority,” he said.
The Greens are happy, the SPD is relieved
SPD leader Lars Klingbeil described his party’s figures as a “stable result”. He emphasized that the SPD “does not sit down at the same table” with the AfD. The SPD has always fought for democratic majorities in the country. “We will not extend our hand to the AfD here.”
The Federal Green Party Chairman Felix Banaszak said of his party's gains that many had already written off the Greens, but now they will most likely achieve the best result in the history of Saxony-Anhalt in a state election. “That fills me with joy and pride.”
FDP state leader announces resignation
Left federal leader Ines Schwerdtner said her goal was to keep the AfD away from government power. “It is up to the CDU to say: who will take responsibility now,” said Schwerdtner, referring to a possible future government with the support of the Left.
FDP state leader Lydia Hüskens announced her resignation after her party's expected return to the state parliament. “I am the state chairwoman, I led the state parliament as the top candidate, so I also pay the consequences for that,” she told the dpa.
What the AfD wants to implement in government responsibility
The AfD had named ten points that it wanted to address immediately if it came into government. This includes the termination of state broadcasting contracts, more deportations, a comprehensive work requirement for asylum seekers, special classes for children of asylum seekers and less money for party-affiliated foundations and democracy promotion programs.
Black, red and gold should fly in schools and rainbow flags should be banned. The AfD is also planning voluntary vigilante groups for more security on site as well as “freedom to choose between school and home education”. In principle, however, federal law limits the scope in some areas, such as migration policy.
What's next?
The first session of the new state parliament must take place no later than the 30th day after the election, which is October 6th. Then the terms of office of the ministers and the head of government also end. However, according to the constitution, they are all obliged to continue running the business until their successors take over. There is no deadline by which a new head of government must be elected - but if the first round of voting is scheduled and fails, deadlines apply for possible further rounds of voting.
