BERLIN — In a decisive regional vote on Sunday, the Alternative for Germany (AfD) captured 43.8% of the ballot in Saxony‑Anhalt, positioning the party to potentially lead the state’s first far‑right government since the Nazi era. Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s Christian Democratic Union (CDU) suffered a dramatic loss, dropping to just 17.2% and seeing its seats cut roughly in half.
Election results and immediate reactions
AfD candidate Ulrich Siegmund, who is vying to become the state’s governor, told public broadcaster ZDF that the electorate “voted for political change” and that the result must be respected. The party fell just short of an outright majority, meaning coalition negotiations will be essential.
Merz is expected to address the outcome after internal meetings with party and government leaders. The CDU’s steep decline reflects growing voter frustration with the national government’s handling of Germany’s sluggish economy.
Coalition possibilities
While Siegmund has ruled out a minority AfD government, the party could seek an alliance with the hard‑left BSW party, which shares a Russia‑friendly stance and opposes immigration, though they differ on other policy areas. Forming a government that excludes the AfD would require an unprecedented five‑party coalition of the CDU, Social Democrats, Greens, Left Party and BSW—an arrangement described as “extremely complicated and hardly conceivable.”
Another scenario involves AfD lawmakers attracting defections from other parties; only three additional seats would give the AfD a governing majority.
International attention and commentary
The election has drawn worldwide interest, given Germany’s historical aversion to far‑right rule. Billionaire Elon Musk congratulated the AfD on his platform X, and President Donald Trump shared a projection screenshot on Truth Social without comment. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, however, criticized the outcome, calling supporters “idiots or traitors.”
Turnout was high at 77.8%, suggesting the AfD attracted many voters who had previously abstained. The result may energize the party in upcoming state contests later this month.
What’s next for Saxony‑Anhalt?
Negotiations are expected to take weeks, with both sides weighing the feasibility of a coalition that includes or excludes the AfD. The outcome will shape the political landscape of eastern Germany and could influence future elections across the country.
Original reporting: Alexandria, VA News – WTOP News — read the source article.
