Far-right AfD wins Saxony-Anhalt and moves within reach of regional government, polls show

Alternative for Germany won Sunday’s election in the eastern German state of Saxony-Anhalt with about 44% of the vote, according to exit polls. The result places the far-right party close to an outright majority and within reach of entering a regional government for the first time in Germany.

Polls from Infratest dimap and Forschungsgruppe Wahlen, conducted for public broadcasters ARD and ZDF, put AfD between 44% and 44.5%. The Christian Democrats of regional Premier Sven Schulze followed with 18.5%. The Left ranked third with between 9% and 9.5%, while the Greens received 8.5%. The Social Democrats polled between 8% and 9%.

The liberal Free Democrats, which had been part of Schulze’s coalition with the Social Democrats, failed to clear the 5% threshold. The Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance came close, with polls placing it between 4.8% and 5%.

Its final result could determine the balance in the regional parliament. If BSW remains below 5%, AfD could govern with an outright majority, potentially holding up to 43 seats in the 83-seat chamber, according to Infratest dimap.

Turnout reached a record 76.5%. The previous high for a regional election in Saxony-Anhalt was 71.5% in 1998, eight years after German reunification.