AfD Wins 44.5% in Saxony-Anhalt Exit Polls

Exit polls indicate a decisive victory for the Eurosceptic, national-conservative Alternative for Germany (AfD) after polls closed in the German state of Saxony-Anhalt on Sunday. The party won 44.5% of the vote, according to the polls, while the center-right Christian Democratic Union (CDU) came in second with 18.5%.

If confirmed, the AfD's lead would be even more substantial than indicated by the latest pre-election polls. However, the distribution of seats will be key. Whether the AfD can secure an absolute majority in the state parliament also depends on how many smaller parties surpass the 5% threshold. According to exit polls, only three other parties clearly surpassed this threshold besides the AfD and the CDU: the Social Democratic Party (SPD), the Greens and The Left.

(dw)