By Benson Daniel
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has acknowledged the scale of the political shock caused by the Alternative for Germany’s historic victory in Saxony Anhalt, saying the result cannot simply be dismissed as an ordinary election setback.
The far right AfD secured about 44 per cent of the vote in Sunday’s state election, more than doubling its share from the previous election and finishing well ahead of Merz’s Christian Democratic Union. The CDU recorded about 17 to 18 per cent, marking a dramatic collapse in support in a state it had dominated for years.
The result has intensified pressure on Merz, whose government has faced growing criticism over immigration, the economy and its handling of other domestic issues. The chancellor described the defeat as a major warning and acknowledged that confidence in the federal government had been weakened.
The AfD victory is particularly significant because it brings the party closer than ever to securing power at state level. The party won 39 of the 83 seats in the Saxony Anhalt parliament, leaving it three seats short of the 42 required for an outright majority.
That means the AfD cannot govern alone unless it finds support from another political force. However, Germany’s established parties have maintained their refusal to form coalitions with the far right, leaving the state facing potentially difficult negotiations over the formation of a government.
AfD regional leader Ulrich Siegmund nevertheless presented the result as a mandate for his party to take responsibility for governing. National co leader Alice Weidel also celebrated what she described as a historic breakthrough and suggested the party’s ambitions now extend well beyond Saxony Anhalt.
The result is likely to have consequences beyond the eastern state. The AfD has already made major gains in national politics, and its success in Saxony Anhalt provides the party with fresh momentum ahead of further state elections and the next federal contest.
For Merz, the challenge is particularly uncomfortable. His CDU was not simply defeated by a narrow margin; its support was roughly halved compared with the previous state election. The result has therefore raised questions about whether the federal government’s current strategy is failing to persuade voters who are increasingly turning to the political extremes.
The AfD’s campaign drew heavily on concerns over immigration, security, economic stagnation and dissatisfaction with mainstream politics. Its strong showing also reflected the party’s ability to mobilise voters who had previously stayed away from elections, with turnout reaching about 78 per cent.
The breakthrough has triggered concern among political opponents and across parts of Europe, particularly because the AfD is classified as an extremist organisation by Germany’s domestic intelligence authorities in some contexts. Critics argue that its growing electoral strength represents a serious challenge to Germany’s postwar political consensus.
Merz has indicated that his government intends to continue with its programme rather than respond by abandoning its broader political direction. But the scale of the Saxony Anhalt defeat makes that position increasingly difficult to maintain without addressing the reasons behind the growing public discontent.
The election has therefore become more than a state level contest. It has emerged as a test of whether Germany’s established political parties can contain the rise of the far right while restoring public confidence in the centre of German politics.
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