AFD wins in Saxony-Anhalt but falls short of a majority

The Alternative for Germany became the largest party in Saxony-Anhalt, but its dream of ruling alone was blocked when Sahra Wagenknecht's BSW cleared the electoral threshold.

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We have written history.

AFD won 43.8% of the vote, up from 20.8% in 2021. The CDU, led nationally by Chancellor Friedrich Merz, fell to 17.2% from 37.1%, although it remained the second-largest party. Die Linke won 8.6%, the SPD 9.3%, the Greens 8.9%, the FDP 2.6% and BSW 5.3%.

AFD's top candidate, Ulrich Siegmund, called the result historic and celebrated what he described as a mandate from voters. “We have taken our country back,” he said at the party's election event. AFD co-leader Alice Weidel told ARD that the party was “going through the roof” in Saxony-Anhalt and would do the same across eastern Germany.

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We have taken our country back. Our goal was not only realistic, it was what the people wanted.

BSW's result gives it a pivotal role in choosing between possible minority governments. Its lead candidate, Claudia Wittig, declined to commit to a decision but said she could support AFD on individual issues, including energy policy. She also called a state government without AFD “completely undemocratic.”

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We want to do what is good for the state, then we will see whether that is with or without AFD.

Established parties continued to reject cooperation with AFD. The election is symbolically important because AFD is seeking a government role and wants major changes to migration policy, more Russian-language teaching, closer relations with Moscow, an end to new wind-power construction and the closure of public-service media. Voter turnout was reported as a record high, with more than 65.3% voting by 4 p.m. State elections in Berlin and Mecklenburg-Vorpommern are due in two weeks.

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AFD will never win an election again.