AfD Aims for Landmark Election Win in Saxony-Anhalt

Voters in the eastern German state of Saxony-Anhalt will decide on Sunday in a closely watched election in which the Alternative for Germany (AfD) could take power at the state level.

The party, which the state security service classifies as “far-right”, has led comfortably in the polls for several months under 35-year-old Ulrich Siegmund. There is a real possibility that it will win an absolute majority on Sunday, especially if several smaller parties fail to clear the 5% threshold required to enter the state parliament.

The election in Saxony-Anhalt is also being closely watched as an indicator of support for the government of the unpopular Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who has sought to undermine the AfD's popularity by taking a tougher stance on migration and security. For the AfD, the vote is one of the key steps toward success at the national level in the elections scheduled for 2029.

According to the latest polls, the AfD has just over 40% support in Saxony-Anhalt, while Merz's Christian Democrats (CDU) are at 23%.

An absolute majority would allow the AfD to circumvent the established parties' long-standing policy of refusing to cooperate with it in government. If it fails to secure one, the most likely outcome is a CDU-led government, though the exact composition of any coalition will depend on which parties make it into the state parliament.

The first results are expected around 6 p.m. on Sunday, shortly after the polls close.

(Reuters, sak)