Germany's Far-Right AfD Surges to Record 44% in Saxony-Anhalt Vote

Germany's far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party is projected to win a record 44% of the vote in the eastern state of Saxony-Anhalt's election on Sunday, far ahead of other parties, though whether it will form a state government remains uncertain. If confirmed, this would be the highest proportional vote for a far-right party in a German state since World War II. The Christian Democratic Union (CDU) of Chancellor Friedrich Merz is projected to fall to 17.4%, a drop of nearly 20 points from 2021, while the AfD more than doubles its previous 20.8% result. The AfD's state candidate, Ulrich Siegmund, declared victory, saying the party "made history" and that voters sent a signal that "things cannot continue like this." However, projections show the AfD winning 39 of 83 parliamentary seats, short of an absolute majority, leaving the possibility of a minority government dependent on the populist BSW party, which is hovering at the 5% threshold.