In brief
AfD’s historic victory in Saxony-Anhalt’s state election places the party just one seat away from governing, marking the far‑right’s closest bid for power since WWII. The deputy parliamentary leader declared the party cannot ignore the voters’ mandate, urging rival parties, especially the CDU, to open dialogue to prevent chaos. With the new state parliament holding policing and education powers, the election’s outcome could reshuffle German politics and spark discussions about coalition stability and internal security.
After last week's state election, the far‑right Alternative for Germany (AfD) surged to 43.8% of the vote in Saxony-Anhalt, one seat short of an outright majority in the 83‑seat parliament.
AfD deputy parliamentary leader Beatrix von Storch told the BBC that the party cannot ignore the voters’ mandate and urged rival parties—including the current ruling coalition’s CDU—to open dialogue. “You cannot say I do not accept the vote of the people,” she said, warning that refusal could lead to “severe chaos” and possibly a new election.
City officials in the 2.1‑million‑strong state noted that no far‑right group has governed a German state since the Second World War, and that state powers include policing and education. Ulrich Siegmund, the AfD’s Saxony‑Anhalt leader, described the result as a “clear mandate to govern” and said conversations with other parties had already begun.
The electorate’s shift comes as the CDU captured only 17.2% of the vote. Intelligence agencies regard the state AfD as “right‑wing extremist,” a label the party rejects. The outcome may reshape national politics, raising questions about coalition viability and Germany’s internal security.
