AfD wins first place in German State election; a first for far right since WWII

Tuesday, 8 September 2026 05:28 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

The Alternative for Germany (AfD) surged into first place in Saxony-Anhalt’s State election on Sunday, exit polls showed, putting the far-right party within reach of power at the state level for the first time since World War Two.

The AfD won 44% of the vote, short of an overall majority, but dealt a heavy blow to Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s conservatives, reflecting deep unpopularity of the ruling federal coalition. Turnout was 77%, according to broadcaster ZDF.

The AfD is already Germany’s most popular party at the national level, polling at 28% in a recent INSA poll, ahead of the conservatives on 20%. It is seeking to secure a foothold in Saxony-Anhalt to advance its national agenda, which includes heavy restrictions on immigration, restoring ties with Russia, cutting support to Ukraine and quitting the euro.

“We have made history in this country,” said Ulrich Siegmund, AfD’s lead candidate in Saxony-Anhalt, who has repeatedly cast a state victory as a first step toward securing national power in federal elections due in 2029. “The people have made it absolutely clear that they finally want political change and, above all, they have shown that they want it with us,” he said.

Germany’s mainstream parties have all refused to work with the AfD, which has been classified as right-wing extremist by the local office of Germany’s domestic intelligence service. The Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance (BSW), which looked set to clear the threshold to enter parliament, has floated the idea of Saxony-Anhalt being run by a non-partisan state premier relying on shifting majorities, including AfD votes. Siegmund rejected the idea as a “mess,” ruling out any arrangement that would prevent the AfD from delivering on its promise of change. “If push comes to shove, there will simply be new elections,” he said.