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BackAfD wins landslide in Saxony-Anhalt state election, falls short of absolute majority
AfD wins landslide in Saxony-Anhalt state election, falls short of absolute majority
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SCMP Economy48 minutes agoPolitics1 min readChina

AfD wins landslide in Saxony-Anhalt state election, falls short of absolute majority

afdsaxony-anhaltgermany

Quick Look

  • Germany's far-right AfD secured 44% of the vote in Saxony-Anhalt's regional election, more than doubling its support and defeating Chancellor Friedrich Merz's CDU, which won around 18%.
  • Despite the historic win, the AfD is unlikely to govern alone due to a cross-party 'firewall' against cooperation with the party, which Germany's domestic intelligence agency classifies as right-wing extremist.

AI-generated summary

Why It Matters

The AfD has been gaining support in eastern German states, where economic disparities and migration concerns have fueled its rise. All major parties have previously agreed not to cooperate with the AfD due to its classification as right-wing extremist by Germany's domestic intelligence agency.

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Germany’s far-right AfD won a landslide victory in a key regional election Sunday in the ex-communist east, a result seen as a stinging rebuke for Chancellor Friedrich Merz, but looked set to miss out on an absolute majority to govern alone.

“We have made history today,” said a jubilant Ulrich Siegmund, the 35-year-old lead candidate of the anti-immigration Alternative for Germany party in Saxony-Anhalt state, as the vote count continued.

The AfD won 44 per cent, more than doubling its support, and far ahead of the around 18 per cent for the centre-right CDU of Merz, according to projections by public broadcasters ARD and ZDF.

The CDU’s state premier Sven Schulze called the outcome “a severe blow” but will stay on as caretaker leader during what could be a long and painful process towards a new state government.

All major parties have agreed on a “firewall” of non-cooperation with the AfD, whose state branch is categorised as “right-wing extremist” by Germany’s domestic intelligence agency.

The AfD’s national co-leader Alice Weidel – who has long condemned the “firewall” concept as undemocratic – praised her party’s result as “sensational” and said the party had “received a very clear mandate to govern” in Saxony-Anhalt.

What to Watch

AI outlook — possibilities, not facts

  • The AfD will attempt to form a government in Saxony-Anhalt by seeking support from smaller parties or independents despite the firewall.

    Possible · Within weeks

  • The CDU will remain in a caretaker role in Saxony-Anhalt while coalition negotiations continue, potentially lasting weeks or months.

    Likely · Within weeks

Open Questions

  • Will the AfD be able to form a government in Saxony-Anhalt despite the firewall?
  • How will this result affect Chancellor Friedrich Merz's leadership and the CDU's strategy ahead of federal elections?
  • Could other eastern states see similar AfD gains in upcoming elections?

Related Topics

afd
PeopleUlrich SiegmundFriedrich MerzSven SchulzeAlice Weidel
OrganizationsAlternative for Germany (AfD)Christian Democratic Union (CDU)ARDZDF
PlacesSaxony-AnhaltGermany
Topicssaxony-anhaltgermanyelectionfar-rightcdufriedrich merz
This article was originally published by SCMP Economy.

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