The far-right Alternative for Germany party has emerged as the front-runner in a regional election, but the formation of the first far-right state government in Germany since World War II remains uncertain, according to exit polls released on Sunday. The party, known as AfD, aimed to secure an absolute majority in the state legislature of Saxony-Anhalt to govern independently, challenging the traditional parties’ reluctance to collaborate with them.
Winning a state government would mark a significant milestone for AfD, established 13 years ago, amid widespread dissatisfaction with the current unpopular national government’s handling of the sluggish economy. The potential victory would also deliver a symbolic blow to Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s center-right party, which has governed Saxony-Anhalt for the past 24 years.
Exit polls from ARD and ZDF public television indicated that AfD garnered approximately 44% of the vote, a significant increase from its 2.1% showing five years ago in the region with a population of 2.1 million near Berlin. Meanwhile, Merz’s Christian Democratic Union was projected to receive 18.5% of the vote, losing nearly half of its support. The center-left Social Democrats and Greens were forecasted to maintain their presence in the state legislature with around 8-9% each.
The outcome for the left-wing BSW party, needing at least 5% of the vote to secure seats, remained uncertain. Despite falling slightly short of an absolute majority, Ulrich Siegmund, the 35-year-old charismatic AfD candidate for state governor, expressed confidence, stating that they had made history and that voters were signaling a desire for change.
Franziska Hoppermann, the national general secretary of Merz’s CDU, acknowledged the challenging results, emphasizing the significance of the election outcome. AfD, the largest opposition party in the national parliament, maintains a strong presence in the eastern regions, particularly in the former communist areas like Saxony-Anhalt.
The rise of AfD in Saxony-Anhalt and the potential implications of a far-right party holding state power have sparked interest and concerns both nationally and internationally, highlighting the evolving political landscape in Germany.
