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

Germany's far-right AfD party won a historic victory in the Saxony-Anhalt state election on Sunday, securing around 44% of the vote, its best result ever in a German state. This marks the closest a far-right party has come to leading a state government since World War II. Despite the win, the AfD lacks a guaranteed parliamentary majority to form a government, leaving leader Ulrich Siegmund's path to the minister-president post uncertain. The result is a major setback for Chancellor Friedrich Merz's CDU, amid widespread voter dissatisfaction with the federal government. The eastern state, a key AfD stronghold, underscores the party's rise since 2013, with its platform focusing on stricter immigration, closer ties with Russia, and reversing climate policies. The state vote does not affect the federal government, with national elections due in 2029.