AfD wins Saxony-Anhalt election as pro-Russian BSW also enters parliament

The Alternative for Germany, or AfD, won a decisive victory in Saxony-Anhalt, taking 43.8% of the vote. Yet the right-wing eurosceptic party still fell three seats short of an absolute majority in the 83-seat state parliament.

The CDU, represented by outgoing state premier Sven Schulze, received 17.2%. The SPD won 9.3%, while the Greens and Die Linke took 8.9% and 8.6%. Sahra Wagenknecht’s BSW narrowly cleared the 5% threshold with 5.3%, securing five seats. The FDP, previously part of the governing coalition, won 2.6% and will leave the regional parliament.

The AfD’s strength was particularly clear in constituency results. It won 38 of 41 constituencies, compared with just one in the 2021 state election. CDU candidates won none. Voter turnout reached 78%, the highest recorded in Saxony-Anhalt since German reunification in 1990.

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We oppose these sanctions against Russia, which are truly damaging our economy.

AfD co-leader Tino Chrupalla said the party’s lead candidate, Ulrich Siegmund, would seek to form the next state government. However, the next premier remains uncertain because all traditional parties have firmly rejected cooperation with the AfD.

BSW lead candidate Thomas Schulze said his party was open to talks with the AfD. He said the two parties agreed on some issues, especially their approach to Russia. “We oppose these sanctions against Russia, which are truly damaging our economy,” he told DPA. BSW founder Sahra Wagenknecht called for a “new political beginning” and said the party should use its influence to change energy policy, end Russia sanctions, improve education and fundamentally reform public broadcasting.

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A new political beginning.