Ulrich Siegmund, the 35-year-old AfD lead candidate who drew thousands to campaign rallies, declared, “We have made history in this country.” He framed the victory as a preliminary step toward securing national power in the federal elections scheduled for 2029. The party’s platform includes plans to heavily restrict immigration, restore ties with Russia, quit the euro, and promote German patriotism. Alice Weidel, the AfD’s co-leader, hailed the result as “historic,” asserting it provided the party with a clear mandate to govern, though she acknowledged that a protracted period of coalition building might be necessary to form a stable majority.
The result represents a significant setback for Chancellor Merz, whose personal approval rating has fallen to historic lows. Polling conducted by ARD indicated that 87% of voters in Saxony-Anhalt were unhappy with the federal government, with many voters who deserted the conservatives citing unfulfilled promises regarding economic reforms. Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil stated that voters were sending a direct signal to Berlin. Thorsten Frei, the faction chief of the conservatives in parliament, dismissed suggestions that Merz’s position was under threat, despite the party’s poor performance in the state.
Political implications extend beyond the immediate state government formation. All mainstream parties have refused to work with the AfD, which the local office of Germany’s domestic intelligence service has classified as right-wing extremist. The AfD has dismissed these accusations as scaremongering. However, the party may find a potential partner in the far-left BSW party, provided it clears the threshold to enter parliament. As counting continued, it remained unclear whether the AfD had secured enough votes to win an absolute majority in the state legislature.
The victory highlights the AfD’s rapid advance since its creation in 2013, particularly in eastern Germany, which was formerly part of Communist-run East Germany. The party is now Germany’s most popular force nationally, polling at 28% in a recent INSA survey, comfortably ahead of the conservatives at 20%. This national appeal is evidenced by its performance in western states earlier this year, where it won around 20% of the vote in Baden-Württemberg and Rhineland-Palatinate.
During the campaign, the AfD tapped into disillusionment with established parties, characterizing them as “tired and out of touch.” Its program proposes pushing schools and cultural institutions toward traditional values, including banning rainbow flags in schools, requiring daily display of the German national flag, and singing the national anthem at school celebrations. Other proposals include establishing citizen patrols, increasing Russian language instruction, halting the construction of new wind farms, and teaching the children of refugees in segregated classes. The political landscape remains fractured, with Germany’s historical context contributing to mainstream parties’ reluctance to cooperate with the AfD.
