AfD's Saxony-Anhalt win puts far-right on cusp of first German state government
The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) won a decisive victory in the Saxony-Anhalt regional election with about 44.2% of the vote, positioning the party to potentially lead a state government for the first time in Germany. The result is a major blow to Chancellor Friedrich Merz's Christian Democrats. The AfD fell short of an absolute majority and may need support from the anti-establishment Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance (BSW) to govern. The CDU collapsed to roughly 18% of the vote, losing about half its support and dropping from 40 to 16 seats. The result intensifies debate over the CDU's "firewall" against cooperating with the AfD, with AfD leaders calling for collaboration. Further electoral tests are scheduled for Berlin and Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania on September 20.