Sahra Wagenknecht's BSW becomes kingmaker in Saxony-Anhalt

The BSW party, led by Sahra Wagenknecht, has become a potential kingmaker in Saxony-Anhalt after narrowly entering the state parliament with 5.3% of the vote, preventing the far-right AfD from securing an absolute majority. The AfD won the election but fell three seats short of a majority, and all other parties have ruled out cooperation with them, giving the five BSW lawmakers a central role in government formation. Wagenknecht has called for a "political new beginning," while AfD leader Alice Weidel hinted at possible cooperation, though AfD candidate Ulrich Siegmund expressed skepticism. Four main scenarios are being considered: an AfD-BSW coalition, CDU defectors joining the AfD, a grand coalition against the AfD, or a CDU-SPD-Green minority government. The latter is complicated by CDU rules barring cooperation with the Left party and BSW's stated goal of unseating the CDU.