German Leftist Party Could Help Far-Right AfD Form First State Government

The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) could form its first state government with the help of a small leftist party, the BSW, after winning the most seats in Saxony-Anhalt's election but falling short of a majority. The BSW, which cleared the 5% threshold to enter parliament, reaffirmed its readiness to talk with all parties, including the AfD, calling the mainstream "firewall" undemocratic. Both parties share hostility to mass immigration and support ending aid to Ukraine. The BSW, founded in 2024 by Sahra Wagenknecht, previously joined a coalition with mainstream parties in Thuringia, but internal disputes have shifted its leadership toward favoring the AfD. The AfD's lead candidate dismissed the BSW as "part of the problem."