AfD Wins Saxony-Anhalt Elections in Germany

The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) won the parliamentary elections held in the German state of Saxony-Anhalt.

According to the official election results, AfD came first with 43.8 percent of the votes.

With this development, it is the first time since the Second World War that a far-right party has come so close to power at the state level.

The result of the ballot box dealt a heavy blow to Prime Minister Friedrich Merz and his coalition.

AfD ranks first in public opinion polls across Germany; It advocates the goals of limiting immigration, deporting refugees, restoring relations with Russia, cutting support to Ukraine and leaving the common currency, the euro.

According to the data of public broadcaster ZDF, in the election with a high turnout of 77 percent, AfD won 39 seats in the 83-seat state parliament.

This number of seats falls short of the absolute majority of 42 deputies required for the party to form a government on its own.

AfD's 35-year-old top candidate in Saxony-Anhalt, Ulrich Siegmund, attended the celebrations in Magdeburg after the results became clear.

In his speech, Siegmund said, "We have made history in this country. The people have finally shown clearly that they want political change and, above all else, they want to implement it with us."

Siegmund described this victory in the state as the first step in the march to national power in the federal elections in 2029.

While party supporters waved German flags during the celebrations, AfD Co-Chairs Alice Weidel and Tino Chrupalla met with Siegmund on stage.

Weidel announced that this result constitutes a turning point and that they aim for at least 40 percent of the vote across the country in the 2029 general elections.

US President Donald Trump shared the election table without comment on his social media platform Truth Social.

Traditional parties in Germany refuse to form a partnership with the AfD, which the local unit of the domestic intelligence agency describes as far-right, and implement the "firewall" principle.

AfD management argues that this approach is undemocratic.

AfD Co-Chairman Tino Chrupalla called for direct cooperation from CDU MPs in his statement to the ARD channel.

Chrupalla said, "Politics always means compromise. Tactical games within the party should now be left behind," and noted that a centre-right conservative majority could be established in the state.

Siegmund, who is aiming for the seat of the state prime minister, also stated that they would contact different groups in the parliament, but that they were closed to complex formulas that would restrict the AfD's program, and warned, "If conditions are difficult, new elections will be held."

The left-populist Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance (BSW) entered the parliament by exceeding the 5 percent threshold.

BSW leader Sahra Wagenknecht argued that any attempt by centrist parties to form a new firewall coalition to keep the AfD out of power would be disrespectful to the electorate.