Tech billionaire Elon Musk and prominent European hard-right figures have celebrated the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party's significant victory in the state election in Saxony-Anhalt. The AfD secured a decisive win, far surpassing mainstream parties in the eastern German state.
In a post on social media, Musk wrote, "Well done!" following the election results. The AfD's strong performance has placed the party within reach of state-level power for the first time since World War II, although preliminary results indicate it fell just short of the outright majority needed to govern alone.
AfD co-founder Alice Weidel stated that the party had received a "very clear mandate to govern" in Saxony-Anhalt. She outlined the party's platform, emphasizing the representation of national interests and vowing to cut spending, control borders, deport criminals, and close borders if they were to assume governmental responsibility at the federal level. Weidel also predicted that German Chancellor Friedrich Merz could be replaced before Christmas and suggested the possibility of early federal elections.
The AfD garnered 43.8 percent of the vote in Saxony-Anhalt, more than doubling its showing from five years prior. In contrast, the conservative Christian Democratic Union (CDU), led by Chancellor Merz, saw a significant decline, securing only 17.2 percent of the vote. Other parties, including the Social Democrats, Greens, and Left Party, received single-digit percentages.
Despite the strong showing, the AfD fell three seats short of an absolute majority in the 83-member state parliament, meaning coalition negotiations will be necessary to form a government. Rival parties have previously pledged not to form coalitions with the AfD, a party whose leaders have faced accusations of using Nazi slogans and minimizing the Holocaust. German intelligence has classified the AfD as a "suspected" extremist group.
The election results have drawn reactions from across Europe. French government ministers expressed concern over the implications of the AfD's victory. French Finance Minister Roland Lescure described the outcome as a "very, very worrying signal" and highlighted the challenge posed by a growing populist wave worldwide. European Affairs Minister Benjamin Haddad echoed these sentiments, calling the AfD's success in the German regional election a "very grave moment for Europe," while stressing that nationalism and xenophobia are not solutions.
Ulrich Siegmund, the AfD's lead candidate in Saxony-Anhalt, declared that the party had "written history" and that voters had signaled dissatisfaction with the current political direction. He also credited Chancellor Merz's campaign efforts as beneficial to the AfD.
Other European hard-right leaders also voiced support. Matteo Salvini, Italian Deputy Prime Minister and leader of the League party, stated that "another Europe is possible." Santiago Abascal, leader of Spain's Vox party, called the result "a great hope for Germany and for Europe." André Ventura, leader of Portugal's Chega party, celebrated the AfD's "historic" win and linked it to public anger over immigration. Geert Wilders, leader of the Freedom Party in the Netherlands, offered congratulations to Siegmund and Weidel.