The Alternative for Germany has won its best-ever election result - The Economist

**Alternative for Germany (AfD) Scores Record‑Breaking Result in Saxony‑Anhalt**

The far‑right Alternative for Germany (AfD) emerged as the largest party in the March 2024 Saxony‑Anhalt state election, securing roughly **23 % of the vote**—its highest share ever in any German election. The party edged out the centre‑right Christian Democratic Union (CDU), which fell to just over 22 %, while the Social Democrats (SPD), the Greens and the Free Democratic Party (FDP) each gathered between 12 % and 16 % of the electorate. Preliminary counts released by the state election office and reported by *DW* and *BBC* confirmed the AfD’s lead, a development that *The Economist* described as “the most significant regional breakthrough for the party to date.”

The result reshapes the balance of power in the 119‑seat Landtag. Although the AfD now holds the most seats, it remains outside the governing coalition, as the CDU, SPD, Greens and FDP have pledged to work together to keep the far‑right out of government—a stance echoed by CDU chairman Friedrich Merz in a televised interview, where he warned that the party must “respond decisively” to the electoral surge while upholding democratic norms. Analysts at *The Guardian* note that the AfD’s surge may force the traditional centre‑right parties to recalibrate their messaging on immigration, security and economic policy, especially in the historically industrial east where the party’s populist platform has found resonance.

Across Europe, the Saxony‑Anhalt outcome fuels broader concerns about the rise of nationalist parties in post‑war democracies. *CNBC* highlighted that similar gains have been recorded in Austria, Italy and France, prompting EU officials to monitor the situation closely. While the AfD’s parliamentary strength remains limited at the federal level, its success in a key state election could embolden its leadership to push for a more assertive agenda in the Bundestag and influence coalition negotiations in upcoming federal polls. The episode underscores the ongoing tension between Germany’s commitment to a liberal democratic order and the growing appeal of right‑wing populism among segments of the electorate.