In brief
The far‑right Alternative for Germany (AfD) is one seat away from a majority in Saxony‑Anhalt after winning 43.8% of the vote. The party is calling for other parties to sit down with them, while many are refusing. If no coalition is formed, the state could face chaos or a new election. This marks the first time a far‑right party could control a German state, raising concerns about policing and education policy.
The Alternative for Germany (AfD) won 43.8% of the vote in the Saxony‑Anhalt state election, three seats shy of a clear majority. The party’s deputy parliamentary leader says the party is “very, very close” to ruling the state and is calling on other parties to cooperate.
Beatrix von Storch, who runs the AfD in Saxony‑Anhalt, warned that rejecting the AfD could lead to chaos and a new election. She echoed the party’s stance that the people’s vote must be respected. AfD’s leader Ulrich Siegmund told reporters the party has a “clear mandate to govern.”
No far‑right party has controlled a German state since World War II, so a government led by the AfD would wield power over policing and local education policies. The CDU, the largest party in the former coalition, won 17.2% of the vote, and the AfD is engaging with members of that party in hopes of securing a partnership.
The final parliament count will settle the seat numbers, but the AfD already holds 39 of 83 seats. If coalition talks fail, Saxony‑Anhalt could see a fresh election, destabilizing the region and sparking debate across Germany about the far‑right’s role in politics.
