AfD Achieves Record Result in Saxony-Anhalt State Election
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AfD Achieves Record Result in Saxony-Anhalt State Election
- The Alternative for Germany (AfD) party secured 43.8% of the vote in the Saxony-Anhalt state election on September 6, 2026, marking its strongest-ever performance in any German state election.
- Despite this significant win, the AfD, with lead candidate Ulrich Siegmund, fell short of an absolute majority, obtaining 39 out of 83 seats, while 42 seats are needed to govern alone.
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The Alternative for Germany (AfD) achieved a historic victory in the Saxony-Anhalt state election held on September 6, 2026, receiving 43.8% of the votes. This result more than doubled their share from the 2021 state election, where they garnered 20.8%. The AfD now holds 39 seats in the 83-seat Landtag, falling three seats short of the 42 required for an absolute majority to form a government independently.
This outcome marks a significant shift in the political landscape of Saxony-Anhalt and Germany, as it is the first time a party classified as “right-wing extremist” by the state intelligence service has achieved such a dominant first place in a state election. The Christian Democratic Union (CDU), led by Chancellor Friedrich Merz, experienced a substantial decline, plummeting to 17.2% of the vote from 37.1% in 2021, and securing only 15 seats.
The election results have initiated complex discussions regarding coalition formation, as mainstream parties have historically ruled out cooperation with the AfD. Other parties that secured seats include the Social Democratic Party (SPD) with 9.3% (8 seats), the Greens with 8.9% (8 seats), The Left with 8.6% (8 seats), and the newly formed Bündnis Sahra Wagenknecht (BSW) with 5.3% (5 seats). The BSW, while critical of the “firewall” against the AfD, has not explicitly committed to supporting an AfD-led government. AfD lead candidate Ulrich Siegmund has stated that the party views the result as a clear mandate to form a government, but acknowledges the current lack of coalition partners, suggesting new elections as a potential option if no government can be formed.