Lead candidate Ulrich Siegmund (c) and AfD co-leader Alice Weidel (l) hailed the result as a mandate for political change|@Alice_Weidel|X
The Alternative for Germany (AfD) has scored its strongest-ever result in a state election, winning a landslide victory in Saxony-Anhalt.
The result marks the far-right’s strongest position in modern Germany in its push to control a state government since the Nazi era.
The party received 43.8% of the vote and won 39 of the state parliament’s 83 seats. However, the party fell three seats short of the 42 needed for an outright majority.
AfD’s lead candidate Ulrich Siegmund and co-leader Alice Weidel hailed the result as a mandate for political change.
The party is known for its hard-line anti-immigration policies and has also pushed for an end to foreign aid for Ukraine and renewed diplomatic relations with Russia and the US.
Despite its victory, the AfD faces a difficult path to forming a government. Mainstream parties have long followed a political “firewall” against cooperating with the far-right party.
The smaller Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance (BSW), which won five seats, has been more open to working with the AfD.
The result comes as far-right parties gain support across Europe, reflecting growing voter frustration with established political parties and government policies.