The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party won the elections held yesterday, Sunday, in Saxony-Anhalt, but failed to secure a majority of seats in the eastern federal state’s parliament, which would have allowed it to govern on its own, according to the—still preliminary—results of the vote count.
The AfD has emerged as the largest party in the state parliament, securing 43.8% of the vote and crushing the Christian Democrats, whose share of the vote fell to 17.2%, according to preliminary results.
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Three parties across the political spectrum from the center to the left—the Social Democrats (SPD), the Greens, and The Left (Die Linke)—cleared the 5% threshold and will enter the state parliament, with each securing around 9%.
The populist Zara Wagenknecht Alliance (BSW) also cleared the 5% threshold and will enter the state parliament. In contrast, the pro-business Free Democratic Party (FDP), which until now had been part of the state’s governing coalition, saw its share of the vote plummet to 2.6% and will not hold any seats in the new state parliament.
Voter turnout reached 78%, according to preliminary results. This is the highest turnout since Germany’s reunification in 1990, a figure that reflects the public’s keen interest in yesterday’s election.
Despite the far-right’s electoral victory, it is unclear which party will lead the next government in Saxony-Anhalt, as nearly all parties refuse to cooperate with the AfD, a political movement known in German political jargon as the “protective wall.”
