AfD tops Saxony-Anhalt election exit polls with 44% of vote

Magdeburg, Germany. Alternative for Germany (AfD) won 44% in exit polls for Saxony-Anhalt’s state election on Sunday, placing a far-right party within reach of state-level power for the first time since World War Two. The result dealt a major setback to Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s conservatives amid widespread dissatisfaction with Germany’s ruling coalition.

Election result

Although the AfD remained short of an overall majority, the exit polls put it in first place. As counting continued, it was unclear whether the party would be able to form a government.

Broadcaster ZDF reported turnout of 77%, while an ARD poll found that 87% of voters in the state were dissatisfied with the federal government.

AfD campaign

The AfD is already Germany’s most popular party nationally and is seeking a state-level foothold to advance its agenda, which includes major restrictions on immigration, restored ties with Russia, reduced support for Ukraine and withdrawal from the euro.

Ulrich Siegmund, the 35-year-old AfD lead candidate in Saxony-Anhalt, said the result marked a historic moment. He had attracted thousands to campaign rallies and repeatedly described victory in the state as an initial step towards gaining national power in federal elections scheduled for 2029.

“We have made history in this country,” Siegmund said. “The people have made it absolutely clear that they finally want political change and, above all, they have shown that they want it with us.”

Reaction

As the first exit polls were released, Siegmund stood arm-in-arm with the AfD’s two national leaders, who laughed as the scale of the projected victory became clear. Supporters at the party’s election-night gathering in Magdeburg waved German flags and embraced.

US President Donald Trump posted a screenshot of the result without comment on his Truth Social platform, while far-right leaders in other European countries welcomed the election outcome as a mandate for change.

The result was a significant setback for Merz, whose approval rating has fallen to historic lows as voters have turned away from both his planned reforms to revive Germany’s sluggish economy and his gaffe-prone communication style. Siegmund has described Merz’s unpopularity in the state as making him the AfD’s best campaigner.