AfD Wins Saxony-Anhalt Election, Raising Pressure on German Chancellor

The Alternative for Germany (AfD) party achieved a decisive victory in the Saxony-Anhalt state election, winning 43.8% of the vote and 15 seats, while Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s Christian Democratic Union (CDU) fell to 17.2% and 15 seats. The result leaves the AfD just short of a governing majority, opening complex coalition negotiations.

AfD’s lead candidate for governor, Ulrich Siegmund, said the party will seek a stable majority by reaching out to all parliamentary factions, adding, “Our goal now is to build precisely this stable majority in the coming days and weeks.” The hard-left BSW party, which obtained 5.3% of the vote, indicated willingness to support an AfD-led government, though an alliance would still require additional partners.

If other parties—CDU, Social Democrats, Greens, Left Party and BSW—cooperate, a five-party coalition could exclude the AfD, but such an arrangement would be unusually large and potentially unstable. Analysts note that only three defections from other parties would give the AfD a majority.

The outcome marks the strongest showing for the AfD in its 13-year history and could influence upcoming state elections. It also intensifies scrutiny of Merz, who had pledged to curb the party’s rise but now faces criticism for the CDU’s halved support.

International reactions varied, with some foreign figures congratulating the AfD, while Poland’s prime minister condemned the result. Domestic observers expressed concern over the shift, citing the region’s historical context and the party’s classification as extremist by parts of Germany’s domestic intelligence service.