The Alternative for Germany (AfD) won the state election in Saxony-Anhalt, in eastern Germany, and achieved a historic result for the far-right party. The party received around 44% of the votes, according to the partial results of the count.
The vote represents the first time since World War II that a far-right party has come so close to taking over the government of a German state.
Victory at the polls, however, does not guarantee the AfD control of the state government. The party still depends on the composition of Parliament to know whether it will have a sufficient majority to govern. Therefore, the result also does not mean that Ulrich Siegmund, leader of the AfD in the state, will be minister-president, a position equivalent to that of governor in Brazil.
Among them are the tightening of immigration policies and a rapprochement with Vladimir Putin's Russia (understand what AFD defends below in the article).
🔍This Sunday's vote was statewide and therefore does not change the composition of the German federal government. The next election for the Federal Parliament, which defines the national government, is scheduled for 2029.
Setback for Friedrich Merz
The result of this Sunday's election also represents a setback for Chancellor Friedrich Merz, leader of the conservative coalition that governs Germany. Merz's CDU was well behind the AfD in Saxony-Anhalt.
The vote took place amid voter dissatisfaction with the federal government. According to a survey by broadcaster ARD, 87% of voters in the state said they were dissatisfied with the federal government.
For Marcel Fratzscher, president of the German Institute for Economic Research, the result mainly represents a rejection of the Merz government.
AfD grows in eastern Germany
Saxony-Anhalt has just over 2 million inhabitants and was part of East Germany during the country's division. The state is among the AfD's main electoral strongholds.
The result reinforces the growth of the party, created in 2013. The party also advanced in the state elections held this year in regions of western Germany and currently appears ahead of traditional parties in polls of voting intentions for a possible national election.
What the AfD stands for
Immigration is at the heart of the AfD's proposals. The party defends stricter rules for the entry and stay of foreigners in Germany, in addition to expanding deportations and adopting a “remigration” policy, a term used by the party to defend the return of immigrants to their countries of origin. The acronym also proposes changes to integration policies and tougher measures for those requesting asylum.
In education, the AfD advocates changes to school attendance rules and the possibility of home teaching. The party also proposes separating refugee children into specific classes and changing the content of schools, with greater emphasis on German identity and culture.
In the energy area, the party wants to reverse part of the climate policy adopted by the country, expanding the use of fossil fuels and defending the resumption of nuclear energy. The party also proposes to reduce the role of public broadcasters and restrict their operations to a service considered basic.
In foreign policy, the AfD advocates rapprochement with Russia, the end of sanctions against Moscow and the reduction of German support for Ukraine. The party is also critical of the European Union and wants to return part of the powers currently concentrated in the bloc to member countries.
*With information from Reuters
