AfD wins German state election in Saxony-Anhalt, first far-right victory since 1945

The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) won a state election in Saxony-Anhalt, becoming the first far-right party to win a German state election since World War 2, though it fell three seats short of an outright majority. The party secured 39 seats in the 83-member parliament with 43.8% of the vote, more than double its result five years ago. Candidate Ulrich Siegmund claimed a clear mandate to govern, ruling out a minority government, while opponents' ability to form a stable coalition remains unclear. The AfD, strongest in the formerly communist east, is classified as a proven right-wing extremist group by domestic intelligence in the region, a label the party rejects. Its priorities include a "deportation offensive" and opposing sanctions on Russia, though state-level influence in national legislation is limited.