Far-Right AfD Poised for Potential Governance in German State
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Far-Right AfD Poised for Potential Governance in German State
- The Alternative for Germany (AfD) party is currently polling at around 41% in Saxony-Anhalt, a lead that could see them win an absolute majority in the upcoming state election on September 7, 2026.
- Founded on February 6, 2013, the AfD has shifted from an anti-euro party to one focused on anti-immigration and national conservative policies under leaders like Tino Chrupalla and Alice Weidel.
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The Alternative for Germany (AfD), a far-right political party, is on the verge of potentially forming a state government for the first time in post-World War II Germany. Polling indicates the AfD is leading significantly in Saxony-Anhalt, an eastern German state, ahead of the September 7, 2026, regional elections. Current surveys show the AfD with approximately 41% support in Saxony-Anhalt, far surpassing the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) at 23%.
The AfD was founded in 2013, initially focusing on Euroscepticism and opposition to eurozone policies. Over time, the party’s platform evolved, adopting strong anti-immigration, anti-Islam, and national conservative stances. This shift has been particularly successful in eastern Germany, where the party has capitalized on economic anxieties, perceived neglect, and opposition to federal policies regarding immigration and the war in Ukraine.
In the 2025 federal election, the AfD became the second-largest party in the Bundestag. Nationally, recent polls suggest the AfD holds around 28% to 30% of the vote. If the AfD secures an absolute majority in Saxony-Anhalt, its top candidate, Ulrich Siegmund, could become the state’s minister-president. While Germany’s mainstream parties have historically maintained a “firewall” to prevent cooperation with the AfD, an outright majority in a state election would present a significant challenge to this strategy. Experts suggest that an AfD victory in Saxony-Anhalt, or even a strong showing, would have considerable ripple effects on German and European politics.