Exit poll: AfD won the elections in Saxony-Anhalt / The far right received 44.5%, ahead of Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s party

The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party achieved a historic victory in the regional elections in the eastern state of Saxony-Anhalt, according to exit polls published on Sunday. The party won 44.5% of the vote, more than double its result in 2021, and clearly surpassed the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s party.

The CDU won 18.5%, down from 37.1% five years ago. Die Linke was credited with 9.5%, the Greens with 9%, and the Social Democrats of the SPD with 8%. The liberals of the FDP failed to clear the electoral threshold. The official results were due to be announced in the following hours.

The AfD, led in the state by Ulrich Siegmund, is claiming the right to form the government. However, most parties have ruled out participating in a coalition led by this party. One possible option would be an alliance with the left-wing populist BSW, if it clears the electoral threshold. According to estimates, the two parties could together secure a fragile majority.

The result represents a blow to the conservatives who have governed Saxony-Anhalt since 2002 and an important signal for the federal government led by Merz. The AfD argued that issues such as migration and internal security were decisive in the election.

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