The right-wing Alternative for Germany (AfD) party achieved a historic victory in a state election in Saxony-Anhalt on Sunday, securing a substantial lead over Chancellor Friedrich Merz's conservative Christian Democratic Union (CDU) party. Exit polls reported by ARD broadcaster showed the AfD candidates capturing 44.5% of the vote, while the CDU garnered only 18.5%.
AfD co-leader Alice Weidel declared the outcome a "historic" achievement for her party and asserted that the CDU would not win another election. "We are going to see explosive growth across all of East Germany — and at the federal level, too," she stated.
Despite the AfD's strong performance, the party falls short of an outright majority in the state parliament, which has 82 seats. Projections indicate the AfD could win between 39 and 41 seats. Most other established parties have ruled out forming a coalition with the AfD, leaving its ability to govern in question. However, the emergence of the left-wing populist Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance (BSW) could potentially enable AfD governance if it meets the electoral threshold.
Ulrich Siegmund, the AfD's lead candidate in Saxony-Anhalt, celebrated the results with fellow party leaders Alice Weidel and Tino Chrupalla.
Marcel Fratzscher, president of the German Institute for Economic Research, described the election outcome as "a vote of no confidence in the federal government." The AfD is known for its anti-migration stance and pro-Russia platform, advocating for policies such as banning rainbow flags in schools. The party has been designated as "right-wing extremist" by Germany's domestic intelligence service, a classification the AfD disputes.
This marks the first time a right-wing party has achieved such a significant victory in a German state election since World War II. Voter turnout in Saxony-Anhalt was notably high, estimated at 78%. The state has a population of approximately 2.1 million, with a low percentage of foreign residents, standing at 7.9%.
CDU national general-secretary Franziska Hoppermann expressed defiance, characterizing the AfD as a right-wing extremist party that aims to leave the Eurozone, which she warned would lead to economic collapse. She also highlighted the party's close ties with Russia and its distinct social model, stating, "We will not work with them."