MAGDEBURG, Germany — The far-right Alternative for Germany won a historic victory in Saxony-Anhalt’s state election, taking 43.8% of the vote but falling three seats short of an outright majority, and is now seeking partners or individual lawmakers to govern, the BBC reported.
AfD state leader Ulrich Siegmund called the result a “clear mandate to govern.” No far-right party has controlled a German state since World War II. Chancellor Friedrich Merz said he was “deeply shocked,” calling the outcome seismic after his CDU’s share nearly halved to 17.2%. Most parties maintain a firewall against the AfD; the left-populist BSW has signaled it will not block an AfD-led minority government. Domestic intelligence classifies the AfD in Saxony-Anhalt as right-wing extremist, a label Siegmund rejects.
The new parliament must meet by October 6. Talks could take days or weeks; another election remains a possible path out of deadlock.
Sources: BBC News.
