AfD Projected to Win Historic State Election in Saxony-Anhalt

Germany's far-right AfD party is projected to win a historic state election victory in Saxony-Anhalt, according to exit polls. All major parties refuse to cooperate with AfD, which has been under surveillance since 2021 on suspicion of right-wing extremism. AfD is projected to win around 30% of the vote, with the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) second at 18.5%. Turnout surged to 76.5%, up from 60.3% in 2021. Researcher Anette Homlung Storeide called the result "even better than feared," noting it marks the first time a far-right party may reach power in a German state since World War II. AfD could secure a majority with under half the votes if smaller parties fall below the 5% threshold. The party has promised a "deportation offensive" targeting Ukrainians. Germany's domestic intelligence service has monitored AfD since 2021.