Germany’s far-right party AfD surges to historic victory in state election

Far‑Right Party AfD Wins Historic Victory in Saxony‑Anhalt State Election

SAXONY‑ANHALT, Germany – In a result that has shocked German politics, the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party has secured a landslide win in the state election held on Sunday, eclipsing the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and putting the party in a position to form its first state government since the end of World War II. The result is seen as a blow to Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s coalition and a sign of growing discontent with the national government.

A New Political Milestone

AfD’s 35‑year‑old candidate Ulrich Siegmund, who ran on a platform of “anti‑migration” and “remigration,” said after the polls closed that the people had delivered a clear message: “We have written history.” He added that voters were signaling “things cannot carry on like this” and that the results would also be a “signal toward Berlin.”

Siegmund’s campaign sought an absolute majority in the state’s 97‑seat Landtag. While the current projections place the party at just over 44 % of the vote, it is still short of the 50 % needed to govern alone. Nonetheless, the result would enable AfD to form a government without the need for coalition partners, breaking a “firewall” that has kept mainstream parties from working with the far‑right.

Reaction from the CDU

Friedrich Merz, the CDU’s federal leader and former Finance Minister, was widely expected to face a difficult election. The party’s share of the vote dropped to roughly 18 %, a steep decline from the 32 % it recorded five years ago in the same state. Merz’s team has been criticized by opponents as “unpopular” and “too focused on the chancellery.”

During a televised interview, Siegmund called Merz a “very good campaigner for us in this election campaign” and added, “Every day this man is in the chancellery is one too many.” The comment underscores the deep rift between the two camps.

The CDU’s national secretary, Franziska Hoppermann, described AfD as a “right‑wing extremist party” that “wants to leave the euro; that would be economic downfall” and that it works “closely together with Russia” while seeking a “completely different social model.” Hoppermann declared that her party would not cooperate with AfD.

Context and Controversy

AfD has long been the largest opposition party in Germany’s federal parliament, with a strong base in the former East German states, including Saxony‑Anhalt. The party’s regional branch in Saxony‑Anhalt has been designated by the domestic intelligence agency as a confirmed right‑wing extremist group, citing anti‑migrant rhetoric among its members.

The party’s platform includes a push for “remigration,” calling for the deportation of immigrants and for ending incentives that draw people to Germany. Siegmund also pledged a “deportation offensive,” an end to what he calls “exploitation of the social system,” and a plan to remove the state’s public broadcaster from the region over alleged “disinformation.”

Despite the controversy, AfD’s performance has been unprecedented. The party’s share of the vote has more than doubled since five years ago, when it captured only about 2 % of the Saxony‑Anhalt electorate. The election result also reflects broader public frustration with the national government’s handling of the economy and migration policy.

Implications for German Politics

If AfD secures an absolute majority, it would become the first far‑right party in modern Germany to lead a state government. The move would test Germany’s political boundaries and the resilience of its post‑war democratic system. The ruling CDU, which has governed Saxony‑Anhalt for 24 years, will now face the task of redefining its strategy in a state that has turned its back on it.

As the counting of votes continues, analysts will watch closely to see whether AfD can overcome the remaining margin and whether other parties—such as the Left, Social Democrats, and Greens—will be able to form a coalition to counterbalance the new far‑right administration. For now, the historic victory signals a shift in German politics that could reverberate far beyond the borders of Saxony‑Anhalt.