AfD emerges strongest in Saxony-Anhalt, but rejects compromise as it seeks absolute power

In the September 6 state elections in Saxony-Anhalt, the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) secured approximately 44% of the vote, establishing itself as the dominant political force. The result brought the party within striking distance of an absolute majority in the new state parliament, a threshold that would allow it to govern without any coalition partners.

From the outset, the AfD has made clear that sole governance is its preferred scenario. Party strategists argue that relying on coalition partners would force compromises that could dilute their radical agenda. Key policy objectives include mandatory labor programs for asylum seekers, the creation of civilian patrols to monitor migration issues, and the elimination of all state funding for democratic and civic engagement initiatives.

While German political discourse has focused heavily on the efficacy of the “firewall”—a strategy where mainstream parties refuse to cooperate with the AfD—the rival party has simultaneously fortified its own ideological barriers. For years, AfD officials have dismissed established political opponents as “cartel parties,” a term that equates them with criminal syndicates in the party’s rhetoric.

Teresa Haußmann, a political scientist at the University of Potsdam who specializes in populist movements, notes that the AfD views all other political entities as part of an elite establishment that must be resisted.

On election night, Ulrich Siegmund, the party’s lead candidate and an emerging star, offered a momentarily conciliatory tone during an interview with public broadcaster ARD. “As a democrat, I extend my hand to all political forces willing to pursue a fundamental change of course with us,” he said. However, he quickly qualified the statement, adding, “There will be no bending on my part, no compromises.”

This reluctance to compromise is central to the party’s populist doctrine. According to Haußmann, populist movements often operate on the premise that a single, clear “popular will” exists, leaving no room for alternative political paths. Within the AfD, compromise is frequently interpreted as a sign of weakness or a betrayal of core principles.

Following the initial election night remarks, senior AfD figures largely returned to their campaign tactics of deploying inflammatory rhetoric and personal insults against political rivals.

The most likely potential coalition partners are also the party’s most frequent targets. The center-right Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and the left-wing populist Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance (BSW) represent the most viable options for power-sharing, yet both face hostile rhetoric from AfD leadership.

Immediately after the victory, AfD co-leader Alice Weidel launched a scathing attack on the CDU, declaring, “The CDU/CSU will never be able to win another federal election. That’s a fact.” The CDU, led by Chancellor Friedrich Merz, suffered significant losses in Saxony-Anhalt, with some conservatives feeling the party has drifted too far to the left—a sentiment the AfD aims to exploit.

Furthermore, the AfD is classified by domestic intelligence agencies as a confirmed right-wing extremist organization. This designation stems largely from the party’s questioning of the legal equality of Germans with immigrant backgrounds.

AfD strategist Torben Braga has explicitly stated that the destruction of the CDU is a political objective. Speaking at an event organized by the far-right publisher Antaios, Braga outlined a strategy where the AfD aims to become strong enough to govern independently or to destabilize competing parties so thoroughly that they are transformed into new political entities.

With the CDU targeted for decline, the BSW remains the only plausible coalition partner. The BSW, founded by former Left Party figurehead Sahra Wagenknecht, entered the Saxony-Anhalt parliament for the first time and could act as a kingmaker. Despite shared policy ground and signals of openness from the BSW, the AfD has responded with hostility.

AfD parliamentary group leader Oliver Kirchner appeared on the far-right channel Compact TV to criticize BSW politician Fabio De Masi, using ethnic slurs and suggesting the alliance was unreliable. Meanwhile, Thuringia-based AfD leader Björn Höcke dismissed the BSW as merely the “latest cartel party.”

These signals indicate that the AfD is not seeking rapprochement. Even if it cannot achieve an outright majority, the party appears determined to pursue its radical agenda unilaterally. When asked about the possibility of failing to form a government, Kirchner suggested on Compact TV that the party would simply call for new elections.

However, this hardline stance may not be universally popular within the party. Haußmann observes that there is strong interest among the national AfD leadership, particularly among Alice Weidel, in forming a government in Saxony-Anhalt. Success at the state level is viewed as a strategic stepping stone for Weidel’s long-term ambition to become Chancellor of Germany.

Requests for comment from the AfD parliamentary group and the party’s state executive board regarding ongoing negotiations were not returned. Despite its electoral gains, the AfD continues to grapple with internal tensions between its fundamentalist and pragmatic wings. Haußmann remains skeptical about the impact of any potential coalition, stating, “Even if the AfD were to succeed in forming a coalition with another party, that fact alone would not make it a more democratic party.”