AfD wins by a wide margin in elections in Saxony-Anhalt

According to the provisional official results announced by the state election board, AfD came out on top in the state parliamentary elections in Saxony-Anhalt by a wide margin, receiving 43.8 percent of the votes. The AfD recorded its strongest result in the state parliament election, more than doubling the 20.8 percent vote share in the 2021 election.

The Christian Democratic Union Party (CDU) became the second party with 17.2 percent of the votes, losing 19.9 points compared to 2021. The Social Democratic Party (SPD), which increased its vote by 0.9 points compared to the previous election, ranked third with 9.3 percent. The Green Party came fourth with 8.9 percent, and the Left Party, whose vote rate decreased by 2.4 points compared to the last election, came fifth with 8.6 percent.

The Alliance for Social Justice and Economic Understanding (BSW) was entitled to enter the parliament with 5.3 percent of the votes. The Free Democratic Party (FDP) lost 3.8 points, received 2.6 percent of the votes and could not pass the 5 percent threshold.

AfD's candidate for state prime minister, Ulrich Siegmund

EYES ON COALITION NEGOTIATIONS

The outcome points to political uncertainty and protracted negotiations over the formation of a government, as all other major parties have refused to form a coalition with the AfD.

AfD's candidate for state prime minister, Ulrich Siegmund, said in a statement to ARD television: "We achieved exactly what we set out to do. We made history in this country." he said.

When asked what would happen if a partner could not be found to form a coalition, Siegmund said, "If necessary, new elections will be held." he replied.

GOVERNMENT SCENARIO WITHOUT AFD

According to the provisional official results, the AfD will be represented by 39 deputies, the CDU by 15, the SPD, the Greens and the Left Party by 8 each, and the BSW by 5 deputies in the 83-seat state parliament. In the state parliament, where 42 seats are required to form a government, the AfD alone fell 3 seats behind the majority. In order for a majority government without the AfD to be formed, the CDU, SPD, Greens, Left Party and BSW must all join the coalition.

Participation in the election was 77.8 percent in the state, where 1.7 million voters had the right to vote.