AfD claims democratic mandate after historic Saxony-Anhalt election victory

Following a landmark performance in the Saxony-Anhalt state elections, Germany’s far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) is pressing other political entities to engage in coalition talks, asserting that democracy requires dialogue with the electorate’s chosen representatives.

Preliminary results indicate the AfD secured 43.8% of the vote, falling just three seats short of an outright majority in the 83-member state parliament. While the final tally is still pending, the party has declared a “clear mandate to govern.” Ulrich Siegmund, the AfD’s leader in the state, confirmed that discussions began Sunday night, though he acknowledged consultations could extend over several days or weeks.

Beatrix von Storch, the AfD’s deputy parliamentary leader, told the BBC that opponents cannot disregard the will of the voters. She warned that a refusal to cooperate could lead to severe political chaos and potentially trigger new elections. “This is what democracy demands,” von Storch stated, suggesting that democratic actors must now talk to one another.

Any move toward governing Saxony-Anhalt would be unprecedented since World War II, granting the AfD significant authority over regional policing and education. However, most established German parties maintain a firewall against the AfD. Domestic intelligence agencies classify the state branch as “right-wing extremist,” a label Siegmund disputes.

The party’s platform includes controversial proposals such as segregating child refugees into specialized classes and establishing task forces to detain and deport migrants without legal residency. These policies have drawn sharp criticism across the political spectrum.

Von Storch revealed that the AfD is exploring connections with individual members of the conservative Christian Democratic Union (CDU), the largest party in the outgoing coalition, citing internal dissatisfaction within the CDU. The CDU won 17.2% of the vote in the state. Another potential avenue involves the left-wing populist BSW party, which is projected to win five seats. The BSW, known for its tough stance on migration and support for Russian gas, could theoretically provide tacit support for a minority AfD government, though all other parties have ruled out cooperation.

Chancellor Friedrich Merz was reported by Bild newspaper to have described the results as a “profound turning point” that has shaken the CDU to its core. Meanwhile, international reactions were mixed. US President Donald Trump shared the projected results on Truth Social, while Russian envoy Kirill Dmitriev praised the outcome as a “historic win for the pragmatic AfD.” In contrast, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk dismissed celebratory reactions from the AfD’s supporters.

Siegmund framed the election result as a signal for all of Germany, stating, “It’s a self-confident signal.” The AfD, which leads national opinion polls ahead of both the ruling conservatives and the Social Democrats, previously won the neighboring Thuringia state election in 2024 but failed to secure enough seats to form a government then.