German election poll: AfD leads in Saxony-Anhalt, SPD and Greens gain

The Alternative for Germany (AfD) party is significantly increasing its support in the eastern German state of Saxony-Anhalt, according to a new poll by Infratest dimap. The survey indicates the AfD could reach 42% of the vote, a substantial increase from its 20.8% result in the 2021 federal election.

While the AfD shows strong gains, other parties are also seeing a rise in support. The Social Democrats (SPD) and the Greens are each projected to gain one percentage point, reaching 8% and 6% respectively. The Left Party (Die Linke) is expected to secure 11%, a two-point decrease from its previous performance. The BSW (Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance) and the Free Democrats (FDP) are projected to fall short of the 5% threshold needed to enter the state parliament, with 4% and 3% respectively.

Despite the AfD's leading position, the poll suggests that a sole-government scenario for the party is unlikely. Such an outcome would require the AfD to secure a majority on its own, which appears improbable based on current projections. If the AfD does not achieve a majority, a CDU-led minority government might be necessary, potentially relying on support from the SPD and the Greens. However, internal divisions within the CDU exist regarding potential support from The Left Party.