AfD's Saxony-Anhalt win: Economic fears, not immigration, drove record result

The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party achieved a record result in the Saxony-Anhalt state election, with analysis showing its success was driven by economic concerns and dissatisfaction with the federal government rather than its core anti-immigration platform. According to infratest dimap polling, immigration played only a secondary role in voters' decisions, with social security, peace in Europe, and economic policy being more decisive. The AfD outperformed the Christian Democratic Union across all policy areas, including crime fighting and the economy, while 67 percent of voters said the party better understood their concerns about safety. The result serves as a warning to Chancellor Friedrich Merz, with 59 percent of voters saying the election was a rebuke to the federal government. The AfD's success was largely attributed to mobilizing previous non-voters, gaining support across all demographics, particularly among workers and the self-employed, though its base remains predominantly male.