In the recent state parliamentary elections in Saxony-Anhalt, eastern Germany, the right-wing political party Alternative for Germany (AfD) achieved its best result in the state, capturing 39 out of 83 seats with approximately 44% of the vote. This victory marks AfD as the largest party in the state. Although this result makes them one of the highest-voted and closest right-wing parties to sole governance in post-World War II German state elections, they fell just short of the 42 seats needed for a majority.
AfD’s success has led them to call for support from members of Chancellor Merz’s conservative party to form the state government. Chancellor Merz’s Christian Democratic Union (CDU) suffered a significant decline in vote share, dropping to 17.2% and only capturing 15 seats. The CDU, which has dominated the Saxony-Anhalt state government since 2002, faces political pressure after this defeat.
AfD’s co-leader, Alice Weidel, has expressed the party’s desire to seek support from CDU lawmakers. AfD may also try to garner support from other small party members to facilitate their lead candidate Ulrich Siegmund’s appointment as governor.
The mainstream German parties are now confronted with a decision: whether to continue their longstanding strategy of maintaining a “firewall” against forming alliances with AfD or to assist AfD’s first-time governance at the state level. Since World War II, no right-wing party has led a federal or state government in Germany.
With a population of approximately 2.1 million, Saxony-Anhalt is situated in the former East Germany and is one of the least populous federal states in Germany. However, this election outcome further emphasizes AfD’s growing political influence in eastern Germany in recent years.
Immigration policy was a central issue in AfD’s campaign. The party advocates for strict immigration limits and promotes the large-scale repatriation of asylum seekers who have not passed refugee screening. In terms of foreign policy, AfD calls for improved relations with Russia and reduced assistance to Ukraine. The party has also proposed reforms in schools, cultural institutions, and the public broadcasting system.