AfD wins Saxony-Anhalt but falls short of majority

The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) won Sunday's state election in Saxony-Anhalt with a record 43.8% of the vote, falling just three seats short of an absolute majority and shaking the country's political landscape. The result marks a historic high for the party, which celebrated the outcome as a signal for all of Germany. The CDU suffered a heavy defeat with 17.2%, while the SPD secured 9.3%, prompting calls for reflection on the federal government's reform course. The AfD's victory complicates coalition-building, as other parties refuse to cooperate with it. The left-populist BSW, which entered parliament with 5.3%, could become a decisive force, potentially supporting a minority government or enabling the AfD's candidate to win a premiership vote.