AfD projected to win Saxony-Anhalt regional election

Germany’s far‑right Alternative for Germany (AfD) is projected to emerge as the largest party in the upcoming state election in Saxony‑Anhalt, according to the latest exit‑poll data released by the state’s electoral commission. The AfD is expected to secure roughly 28 % of the vote, edging out the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and the Social Democratic Party (SPD), which are projected at 24 % and 22 % respectively. Voter turnout was reported at 68 %, slightly above the previous election in 2021, and the results reflect a continued shift in the eastern states where the AfD has been gaining ground since its parliamentary breakthrough in 2017.

The projected outcome means the AfD will likely lead coalition talks, though a partnership with the CDU or SPD appears unlikely given the parties’ stated refusal to cooperate with the far‑right. Analysts suggest the result could force a coalition of the CDU, SPD and the Greens, or a minority government supported by the Free Democratic Party, to form a stable executive. The Saxony‑Anhalt result is being watched closely as an indicator of the AfD’s momentum ahead of the federal elections scheduled for next year, where its performance could influence the balance of power in the Bundestag.