AfD leads Saxony-Anhalt regional election and seeks governing coalition

Germany’s Alternative for Germany (AfD) emerged as the clear frontrunner in the Sunday regional elections in Saxony‑Anhalt, marking the first time since World War II that a far‑right party has approached the prospect of governing at the state level. The party’s strong showing placed it well ahead of traditional competitors, signaling a shift in the political landscape of the eastern state.

On Monday, AfD’s lead candidate for Saxony‑Anhalt, Ulrich Siegmund, announced that the party had already begun negotiations with other parliamentary groups to form a governing majority. The talks aim to secure the necessary coalition partners to translate the electoral lead into a functional administration, a development that could see the AfD exert significant influence over regional policy for the first time in post‑war Germany.