AfD's Plurality in Saxony-Anhalt: Far-Right Surge Threatens Democracy and Marginalized Groups
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The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party has alarmingly secured 43.8% of the vote in Saxony-Anhalt, the highest ever for the party, sparking urgent debate over the rise of extremist influence and the threat it poses to democracy, social justice, and vulnerable communities.
The Alternative for Germany (AfD), a party widely recognized for its far-right, xenophobic, and anti-democratic stances, has achieved a deeply troubling 43.8% of the vote in the Saxony-Anhalt state election on September 6. This marks the highest share ever for the AfD in any German state, underscoring the alarming normalization of reactionary politics. While the AfD now holds a plurality, it lacks an outright majority, leaving the door open for coalition negotiations that could either resist or enable the party’s regressive agenda.
The state parliament (Landtag) is required to convene within 30 days to elect a Minister-President. The first two rounds demand an absolute majority, but a third round would allow the candidate with the most votes to seize power, potentially handing the AfD control even without a coalition partner—a scenario that would be a disaster for democracy and human rights.
To prevent the AfD from taking power, the five other parties—SPD, CDU, Greens, Left, and the newly formed Bündnis Sahra Wagenknecht (BSW)—would need to unite in a bloc. However, the CDU’s refusal to cooperate with the Left and the BSW’s reluctance to join an anti-fascist coalition make such resistance unlikely, highlighting the failures of mainstream parties to effectively confront the far-right threat.
“People must understand that this is a true turning point,” warned Bettina Wiengarn, spokesperson for the local democracy alliance Zerbster Bündnis für Demokratie.
“We are worried about the international and queer community, they’re vulnerable groups who are threatened by the right,” added Christiane Lähnemann of Omas Gegen Rechts, emphasizing the grave risks to marginalized people posed by AfD’s rise.
German intelligence agencies have officially classified the AfD’s Saxony-Anhalt chapter as “confirmed right-wing extremist.” Critics rightly warn that the party’s reactionary platform—including abolishing compulsory schooling and tightening deportation procedures—would devastate education, cultural life, and policing, further marginalizing the most vulnerable.
A study by the Leibniz Institute for Economic Research projects that the AfD’s anti-immigration climate could worsen the state’s looming labor shortage by 14,000 workers by 2031, slashing economic output by €1.8-3.2 billion and harming working people.
In response, local activist groups are organizing pro-democracy events and outreach to younger voters, emphasizing solidarity and the urgent need for continued resistance against the far-right’s dangerous advance.