Germany’s far-right AfD scores decisive victory in regional election

The Alternative for Germany emerged as the clear winner in Saxony-Anhalt’s regional election, according to exit polls, marking the first time a far-right party has achieved such a result in Germany since World War II.

The AfD won 44% of the vote, but the result is not expected to give it an absolute majority in the state parliament. Even so, the party appeared poised to inflict a major defeat on the conservatives of Chancellor Friedrich Merz. Reuters said the result reflected the unpopularity of the governing coalition in Berlin and the country’s increasingly fragmented political landscape.

The AfD, which leads national opinion polls, wants to use the state as a foothold for advancing its political agenda. That agenda includes major restrictions on immigration, renewed dialogue with Russia and leaving the eurozone.

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We are writing history in the state.

As counting continued, it remained uncertain whether the party could form a government. But the political signal from the election was clear, with voter turnout reaching 77%, according to public broadcaster ZDF.

“We are writing history in the state,” said Ulrich Siegmund, the AfD’s 35-year-old leader in Saxony-Anhalt. His campaign rallies drew thousands of people. “People have made it clear that they finally want political change, and above all, they have shown that they want it with us.” Siegmund had repeatedly said before the election that a local victory would be the first step toward winning the country in the federal election scheduled for 2029.

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People have made it clear that they finally want political change, and above all, they have shown that they want it with us.