Far-right AfD courts conservative support after historic German state election win - Reuters
The AfD became the largest party in Saxony‑Anhalt with about 23 % of the vote, marking its first state‑level victory. It is now courting conservative partners, a move that could reshape coalition dynamics both in the state and at the federal level.
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The AfD became the largest party in Saxony‑Anhalt with about 23 % of the vote, marking its first state‑level victory. It is now courting conservative partners, a move that could reshape coalition dynamics both in the state and at the federal level.
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**Far‑right AfD tops Saxony‑Anhalt vote, seeks conservative partners**
The Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) emerged as the clear winner of the March 15 state election in Saxony‑Anhalt, securing roughly 23 % of the vote and 25 seats in the 97‑member Landtag. It is the first time the far‑right party has finished first in any German state, overtaking the incumbent centre‑right Christian Democratic Union (CDU) which fell to about 20 %. The result broke the long‑standing “red‑black‑green” coalition of the CDU, Social Democratic Party (SPD) and Greens, which lost its majority and will now have to negotiate a new governing arrangement.
In the wake of the win, AfD leader Alice Weidel hailed the outcome as a “dream result” and called on other parties “to work with us for a stable government”. The party’s parliamentary group in Saxony‑Anhalt has already reached out to the CDU, the Free Democratic Party (FDP) and the liberal‑conservative Alliance 90/The Greens, urging them to consider a “responsible” coalition that excludes the left‑leaning SPD. While the CDU’s state chairman has stopped short of endorsing a formal partnership, he signalled openness to “pragmatic cooperation” on issues such as security and fiscal policy. The FDP and Greens have thus far ruled out any direct alliance with the AfD, citing the party’s extremist rhetoric and the federal government’s “no‑coalition” stance.
The Saxony‑Anhalt outcome intensifies pressure on Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s federal coalition, which already faces criticism over energy costs, inflation and the war in Ukraine. Analysts warn that the AfD’s breakthrough could embolden its push for a broader “right‑wing” bloc across Germany, potentially reshaping the balance of power in the Bundestag and influencing upcoming federal and European elections. The episode also revives debate within the CDU about whether to isolate the AfD completely or to engage with it on a case‑by‑case basis, a dilemma that may define German politics in the months ahead.
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