The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) surged to a resounding victory in Saxony-Anhalt’s regional election on September 6, 2026, but fell short of an absolute majority, marking the party’s first state government bid since WWII. The party secured 44% of the vote, winning 39 seats in an 83-member parliament, with leader Ulrich Siegmund declaring we have written history.
The AfD’s triumph in Saxony-Anhalt represents a seismic shift in German politics. The party, classified by intelligence agencies as a confirmed far-right extremist group, narrowly missed forming a majority, leaving it to navigate a fragmented political landscape. Siegmund, 35, emphasized the party’s mandate to govern, stating, things cannot carry on like this,
while acknowledging the need for coalition-building.
Alternative for Germany party wins regional election short of
The AfD’s 44% vote share reflects deepening public frustration with Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s center-right CDU, which plummeted to 17.2% in the state. The party’s platform includes anti-migration policies and closer ties with Russia, positioning it as a vocal critic of Germany’s pro-Ukrainian stance. Ulrich Siegmund, the AfD’s candidate for governor, told public broadcaster ARD that voters had sent a signal that things cannot carry on like this.
He credited Friedrich Merz as a very good campaigner for us in this election campaign.
Alternative for Germany, or AfD, was seeking an absolute majority in the state legislature to govern alone and overcome the so-called firewall of mainstream parties’ refusal to work with AfD. Final results showed AfD falling three seats short, with 39 lawmakers in an 83-member parliament. Siegmund said it wouldn’t engage in “games” such as a minority government. But it wasn’t evident how its divided opponents could assemble any stable government without it.
A first state government would be the biggest prize in the anti-migration party’s 13-year history, at a time of widespread discontent with a national government that has yet to persuade voters that it can get the country’s sluggish economy moving. The AfD’s victory in Saxony-Anhalt, the first far-right state government in Germany since World War II, may also create serious problems for Ukraine. The party’s leader in Saxony-Anhalt, Siegmund, has pledged to cut support for Ukrainian refugees, a stance that could strain bilateral ties.
Far-right Alternative for Germany party wins big in regional
The AfD is largely locked out of coalition talks thanks to the so-called “firewall,” an agreement by Germany’s other parties not to work with the far right—an approach rooted in the country’s experience with Nazism. Even without an absolute majority, the AfD will be able to put the firewall to the test by attempting to persuade members of the Russian-sympathetic far left (BSW) or right-leaning conservatives (CDU) to break ranks and work with them. Siegmund’s election marks the first time the AfD has secured representation in the Bundesrat, the upper house of Germany’s parliament, opening up an opportunity to delay legislation and promote anti-Ukrainian policies on a national platform.
Final results showed AfD falling three seats short, with 39 lawmakers in an 83-member parliament. The party’s candidate for governor, Ulrich Siegmund, said it wouldn’t engage in “games” such as a minority government. But it wasn’t evident how its divided opponents could assemble any stable government without it. A first state government would be the biggest prize in the anti-migration party’s 13-year history, at a time of widespread discontent with a national government that has yet to persuade voters that it can get the country’s sluggish economy moving.
The AfD’s victory has raised alarms in Ukraine, where officials fear disrupted supply routes and a shift in German policy. The party’s leader in Saxony-Anhalt, Siegmund, has pledged to cut support for Ukrainian refugees, a stance that could strain bilateral ties. Meanwhile, U.S.
Germany's far-right, pro-Russia party win first key regional election
Germany’s “firewall” policy, a post-Nazi consensus against far-right collaboration, remains intact. However, the party’s success in Saxony-Anhalt has forced mainstream politicians to reckon with its growing influence.
The outcome also tests Germany’s federal structure, where states hold significant power over education and security. If the AfD secures a majority in other eastern states, it could reshape national politics, challenging Merz’s leadership and the CDU’s dominance. However, the party’s inability to form a majority in Saxony-Anhalt leaves its future in flux. As Siegmund declared, we have written history,
but the next chapter remains uncertain.
