AfD wins up to 45% in Saxony-Anhalt election as CDU drops to 18%

Exit poll results in Saxony-Anhalt

Exit polls in the eastern German state of Saxony-Anhalt place Alternative for Germany (AfD) in first place with between 44% and 45% of the vote on Sunday. The result represents the highest vote share recorded by any single party in a Saxony-Anhalt state election. The governing Christian Democratic Union (CDU) dropped to approximately 18%, roughly half of its previous election outcome in the state. Governing coalition partners also recorded low support, with the Social Democratic Party (SPD) securing around 8% and the Free Democratic Party (FDP) falling to approximately 2%. Voter turnout reached high levels across the state as polling concluded at 18:00 local time.

Reactions from party leadership

AfD co-leaders Alice Weidel and Tino Chrupalla joined regional lead candidate Ulrich Siegmund at the state press center in Magdeburg following the release of initial projections. Siegmund, 35, addressed public broadcaster ARD to argue for an immediate shift in policy focus.

We need a fundamental political change in this country, so that this policy finally attends once again to our own interests, to our own country.

Party co-leader Alice Weidel described the projection as a clear mandate to govern the region. She also claimed that the outcome would lead to the replacement of Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz before Christmas. Tino Chrupalla called the outcome a direct sanction against Merz, criticizing federal policy toward Russia and noting that the scale of the victory exceeded his own expectations. Saxony-Anhalt Minister-President Sven Schulze of the CDU indicated after the vote that he may step down, stating to supporters that voters had delivered a clear message. Federal Vice Chancellor Lars Klingbeil of the SPD addressed the outcome later in the evening.

Right now, there is an incredibly large number of people in Saxony-Anhalt, but I think also across all of Germany, who are frightened and worried by this election result of the AfD.

Scenarios for government formation

Government formation in Magdeburg remains uncertain despite the AfD plurality. Mainstream parties maintain a policy of refusing formal cooperation with the AfD. Current projections indicate the party remains approximately three seats short of an outright majority in the state legislature. Parliamentary seat allocation depends on whether smaller parties, including the Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance (BSW), the Greens, and The Left (Die Linke), cross the 5% electoral threshold. If BSW and other smaller parties fail to enter parliament, AfD could obtain an absolute majority of legislative seats without forming a coalition. Alternatively, should BSW secure seats, it could potentially offer parliamentary support to an AfD-led administration under Siegmund. If AfD falls short of a majority, CDU, SPD, and the Greens could attempt negotiations to assemble a governing majority.

Intelligence scrutiny and political background

The election outcome follows ongoing legal and security scrutiny directed at the AfD. Germany's Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution classifies the party as a suspected right-wing extremist group, granting authorities legal authorization to monitor internal communications and deploy undercover informants. The regional intelligence branch classifies the state chapter in Saxony-Anhalt as right-wing extremist. The party campaigned on pledges to deport immigrants, curtail mainstream party influence, and restore economic growth. AfD leadership has consistently rejected accusations of extremism, describing the official designations and surveillance measures as politically motivated.