AfD wins big in Germany's Saxony-Anhalt state election

The far-right party Alternative for Germany (AfD) won the parliamentary election in the German state of Saxony-Anhalt, securing 44.5% of the vote according to an exit poll, significantly ahead of the ruling Christian Democratic Union at 18.5%. This result marks the best performance for the AfD since its founding in 2013. The Left party received 9.5%, while the Social Democrats and Greens got 8% and 9% respectively. Final results may change as counting continues. Saxony-Anhalt has the lowest GDP per capita among Germany's 16 states, with a population of about two million. Its population has shrunk by over a quarter since 1990. Chancellor Friedrich Merz warned that an AfD victory could damage the state's economic appeal.