Far-right AfD Could Take Power in Saxony-Anhalt With Help From Left-Wing Populists

The Alternative for Germany has won an unprecedented state-election victory in Saxony-Anhalt, but its path to power could run through a party from the opposite side of the political spectrum.

AfD, an eurosceptic, anti-immigration and xenophobic party classified by Germany’s security services as right-wing extremist, won 43.8% of the vote under lead candidate Ulrich Siegmund. That more than doubled its 2021 share of 20.8% and marked the strongest result achieved by any party in a state election over the past decade.

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The election loser from the CDU must be removed.

The governing Christian Democratic Union, led in the state by Premier Sven Schulze, finished second after suffering heavy losses. Its support fell to 17.2%, from 37.1% five years ago. The Left won 8.6%, the Social Democrats 9.3% and the Greens 8.9%, their best state-election result in Saxony-Anhalt. The Free Democrats failed to clear the 5% threshold, while the Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance narrowly entered parliament with 5.3%.

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I see AfD as a party that 44% of people here in Saxony-Anhalt voted for. I have to take that into account. That is democracy.

It remains uncertain whether AfD can persuade lawmakers from other parties to back Siegmund as premier. Before the election, parties in the state parliament had ruled out a coalition with AfD. But Thomas Schulze, BSW’s lead candidate in Saxony-Anhalt, said the party would abstain in a third round of voting if Siegmund stood for premier, potentially allowing him to be elected.

BSW founder Sahra Wagenknecht said the “election loser from the CDU must be removed” and called for a new political beginning in the state. She said a renewed attempt to create a coalition that would establish a “cordon sanitaire” around AfD would directly insult voters. Schulze said BSW had always opposed isolating AfD, adding, “I see AfD as a party that 44% of people here in Saxony-Anhalt voted for. I have to take that into account. That is democracy.” Wagenknecht said BSW wanted changes in energy policy, an end to sanctions against Russia, better education and a sweeping reform of public broadcasting.

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Now, hopefully, there will be a majority in the state parliament in Magdeburg for a change of course in energy policy, an end to sanctions against Russia, better education and a radical reform of public broadcasting.