AfD's Landslide in Saxony-Anhalt Tests Germany's Far-Right Firewall

Germany's far-right Alternative for Germany party won a landslide victory in Sunday's state election in Saxony-Anhalt, securing 43.8% of the vote and testing the country's political "firewall" against cooperation with the party. The AfD, classified as extremist in some regions, aims to form the first far-right state government since World War II. Its candidate for governor, Ulrich Siegmund, has reached out to other parties, with the hard-left BSW party, which won 5.3%, expressing willingness to help him take office. Mainstream parties, including Chancellor Friedrich Merz's Christian Democrats, have reiterated their refusal to cooperate with the AfD. However, a five-party coalition excluding the AfD would be highly unstable, and analysts say the BSW could act as a kingmaker, potentially enabling the firewall to be overcome.