Orbán hails AfD victory: “Buckle up. This is only the beginning”

Viktor Orbán welcomed what he called a “huge night for Germany and Europe” after the far-right Alternative for Germany, or AfD, won Saxony-Anhalt’s state election.

“Congratulations to Alice Weidel, Ulrich Siegmund and the entire AfD for their sweeping victory in Saxony-Anhalt! Buckle up. This is only the beginning!” the former Hungarian prime minister wrote on X on Sunday, September 6.

The AfD emerged as the largest party in the state parliament, securing 43.8% of the vote in preliminary results. The Christian Democrats suffered a sharp decline, falling to 17.2%. The Social Democrats, Greens and Die Linke each cleared the 5% threshold and won about 9%, while the populist Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance also entered the parliament. The pro-business Free Democrats, which had been part of the state government, fell to 2.6% and won no seats.

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A huge night for Germany and Europe!

Turnout reached about 78%, the highest since German reunification in 1990, according to the preliminary results. Despite the AfD’s victory, it remains unclear which bloc will lead the next government. Almost all parties reject cooperation with the AfD under Germany’s political “firewall” policy.

Orbán governed Hungary for 16 years before suffering a heavy defeat to conservative Péter Magyar in parliamentary elections on April 12. He maintains ties with far-right conservatives and populists worldwide, including the AfD. Weidel visited him several times in Budapest while he was prime minister.

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Congratulations to Alice Weidel, Ulrich Siegmund and the entire AfD for their sweeping victory in Saxony-Anhalt! Buckle up. This is only the beginning!