MAGDEBURG, Germany — An eastern German region voted Sunday in an election that could bring to power the first far‑right state government in the nation’s post‑World II history.
Southeast of Europe’s most populous state cast its ballot on Sunday in a contest that could give Germany its first governing far‑right bloc since World War II.
The election for Saxony‑Anhalt’s state parliament, home to roughly 2.1 million residents west of Berlin, has risen in significance as the nearest realistic path for the AfD—to win an outright majority and head the government.
With such a swing, AfD could claim the historic distinction of becoming the first right‑populist party to administer a state after the conflict, representing a profound shift in regional politics.
Despite sustained backing among voters, the party still faces significant hurdles; a close race may not guarantee enough seats to command the presidency of the senate.
On Sunday, AfD seeks a decisive plurality in the legislative chamber. Achieving this would dismantle the entrenched obstruction maintained by mainstream parties that decline to negotiate with the AfD—designated by the interior ministerial intelligence service as a certified far‑right extremist organization.
The party dismisses recent accusations of extremism as unfounded.
Co‑chairs Alice Weidel and Tino Chrupalla highlighted earlier this week that the party aims to enforce the legal framework—exemplified by efforts against illegal immigration—and assure Germans that the nation remains livable.
They criticized rival administrations and argued that an AfD majority constitutes “essentially the only way to redirect the political course.”
Merz stated that an AfD‑led government would be financially detrimental.
“Should a right‑populist faction secure an outright majority next Monday, foreign capitalists will pause before committing further investment to Saxony‑Anhalt,” he observed.
Siegmond affirmed that he will only recommend a gubernatorial candidacy approved by state leaders upon an AfD victory, emphasizing the party’s duty to uphold previous campaign commitments.
Success in courting a majority will largely turn on whether the centre‑left Social Democrats and the Greens cross the necessary 5 % threshold to secure parliamentary presence.
Absent an AfD plurality, building a coalition proves challenging.
Previous precedent shows AfD sometimes attaining first place without ultimately governing; the most recent instance occurred in Thuringia two years prior, where a CDU leader assumed office via a minority coalition.
In similar situations, Senator Schulze considers arranging alliances with minorer forces, though this demands nuanced calculations, potentially requiring tacit buy‑in from the Left Party—a left‑leaning force traditionally excluded from CDU cooperations.
The upcoming September 20 election cycle adds pressure on CDU leadership and its national partners—the Social Democrats—through parallel contests in Mecklenburg‑Western Pomerania and Berlin itself.
Thomas Mould reported from Berlin.