Alternative for Germany (AfD) won the Saxony-Anhalt state election with 43.8% of the vote, according to preliminary results released on Monday, September 7. The party secured 39 of the state parliament’s 83 seats, three short of an absolute majority.
The result marks a historic shift in German politics. AfD more than doubled its 20.8% share from the 2021 election and finished far ahead of Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s Christian Democratic Union (CDU).
A decisive victory, but no clear path to government
Despite becoming the largest parliamentary group, AfD cannot govern alone. It would need support from other lawmakers or some form of political agreement to elect the state premier and advance its agenda.
Germany’s mainstream parties continue to uphold their political “firewall” against cooperation with AfD. The CDU has reiterated that it will not enter a coalition with the party. That resistance leaves the formation of Saxony-Anhalt’s next government uncertain and opens a period of parliamentary negotiations.
AfD lead candidate Ulrich Siegmund said the result gave his party a mandate to govern and urged other political forces to recognize the voters’ decision. AfD is now seeking support from individual lawmakers for specific proposals, even without a formal coalition.
Major setback for the CDU
The CDU finished second with 17.2% of the vote and 15 seats, down from 37.1% in the previous election. The defeat is a setback for Friedrich Merz’s federal government and is likely to intensify debate within the conservative party over how to respond to AfD’s growth in eastern Germany.
Turnout reached a record 76.5% in the state. The high participation underscores the political weight of the result and the election’s ability to mobilize voters across different groups.
National and European repercussions
The state election is being watched as a test for national politics. AfD plans to use the victory as momentum for other regional contests and the 2029 federal election. Mainstream parties, meanwhile, are debating how to address voter dissatisfaction without normalizing positions classified as extremist by German security authorities.
The result has also drawn concern from European partners. AfD supports tougher immigration policies, favors closer ties with Russia and has criticized aspects of European integration and Germany’s support for Ukraine.
The next phase will depend on the installation of the new parliament and negotiations among the parties. The ballot-box victory has given AfD a central political role, but it has not guaranteed control of the state government.
