The far-right Alternative for Germany party has topped a regional election in Germany for the first time since World War Two, with exit polls from Sunday's vote in the eastern state of Saxony-Anhalt showing the AfD securing roughly 44.4 per cent of the vote — more than double the support of any rival party.
The result represents a landmark moment in modern German political history, with the AfD's lead candidate in Saxony-Anhalt, Ulrich Siegmund, declaring to supporters: "We have made history in this country." Turnout exceeded 80 per cent, underscoring the intensity of public interest in the contest.
A Thumping Result — But Coalition Uncertainty Remains
Chancellor Friedrich Merz's conservative Christian Democratic Union trailed well behind on approximately 18.3 per cent, representing a bruising rebuff to the country's foremost conservative party. The centre-left Social Democrats and the environmental Greens both cleared the minimum threshold required to enter the state parliament, according to exit poll data.
Despite the scale of the AfD's victory, whether Siegmund — a 35-year-old telegenic former salesman — can actually take power remains uncertain. Because no single party appears likely to command an outright majority on its own, a coalition would be required. The CDU and several other mainstream parties have all categorically refused to work with the AfD, which Germany's domestic intelligence service has classified as a right-wing extremist organisation.
One potential partner could emerge from the far-left BSW party, should it manage to clear the parliamentary entry threshold. AfD co-leader Alice Weidel hailed the outcome as "historic" and argued the result gave the party a clear mandate to govern, though she acknowledged a drawn-out coalition-building process may lie ahead.
Who Is Ulrich Siegmund — and What Does the AfD Stand For?
Siegmund campaigned on a message of nostalgia and restoration, frequently telling crowds: "We want our good, old, safe Germany back at last." He drew thousands to his campaign rallies and was often photographed arriving at events on a scooter made in the former East Germany — a pointed nod to what Germans call ostalgie, the nostalgia for life before the fall of the Berlin Wall.
His victory makes him the most electorally successful far-right politician in Germany since the country rebuilt its democracy from the ruins of the Second World War. One of Germany's most prominent magazines described Siegmund as "the most dangerous man in Germany" in an August cover story.
The AfD's policy platform is sweeping and radical. It includes:
- Heavy restrictions on immigration and the deportation of refugees without legal approval to remain
- The restoration of trade ties with Russia, including imports of oil and gas
- A reduction in aid to Ukraine
- Withdrawal from the euro currency
- Free childcare and tax incentives to encourage larger families
- A halt to public broadcasting funding
- Bans on gay pride flags at schools and cuts to funding for "woke" subjects
- A push for more traditional values in schools and cultural institutions
During the campaign, Siegmund and the AfD tapped into deep disillusionment with established parties, characterising them as tired and out of touch while offering voters a vision of cleaner, safer streets and a revival of unashamed German patriotism.
What the Result Means for Germany's National Political Landscape
The Saxony-Anhalt result is the latest sign of the AfD's rapid rise since its founding in 2013. Nationally, the party now polls at around 28 per cent — making it Germany's most popular party — comfortably ahead of the conservatives on 20 per cent.
While the AfD has long been especially dominant in the formerly communist eastern states, it won around 20 per cent in the western states of Baden-Württemberg and Rhineland-Palatinate earlier in the year, reflecting growing national appeal beyond its traditional base.
The outcome also represents a significant blow to Chancellor Merz personally. His approval rating has sunk to historic lows as voters have grown frustrated with both his handling of Germany's sluggish economy and what critics describe as a gaffe-prone communication style.
Saxony-Anhalt is one of Germany's smaller states, with a population of just over two million. But the symbolism of the AfD's victory — in a nation acutely conscious of its Nazi past — extends far beyond the state's borders. Mainstream parties across the political spectrum have long resisted any cooperation with the AfD precisely because of that history, even as the party dismisses accusations of extremism as scaremongering and an insult to its millions of supporters.
Siegmund himself has made no secret of his ambitions beyond the state level, repeatedly framing a win in Saxony-Anhalt as a first step toward securing national power when federal elections are due in 2029.
