If the AfD manages to form a government, it would be the first far-right party to lead a German state since World War II
German exit polls: Ulrich Siegmund’s far-right AfD takes a commanding lead in Saxony-Anhalt election, but faces uncertainty over its ability to govern.
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According to ARD’s projections, the far-right AfD is leading in Saxony-Anhalt with 44.5% of the vote, followed by the CDU at 18.5%, the Left (Die Linke) at 9.5% and the SPD at 8.0%. The result could reshape the political landscape in eastern Germany.
The AfD has achieved its stated goal, with lead candidate Ulrich Siegmund saying the party has made history in Saxony-Anhalt. The projections show it emerging as by far the strongest political force in the new state parliament.
The CDU, led by Minister-President Sven Schulze, suffered a major setback, finishing a distant second. The BSW is projected to receive 5%, leaving its entry into parliament uncertain.
More than 1.7 million people cast their ballots in an election seen as an important test for Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s federal coalition.
Voter turnout hits a record high, with 80 per cent of eligible voters casting their ballots in the election. That is significantly higher than in the last election in 2021, when turnout was 60.3 per cent.
According to Infratest Dimap, four issues were decisive in the election: declining confidence in the established parties, social security, the economy and migration.
If the AfD manages to form a government, it would be the first far-right party to lead a German state since World War II.