Saxony-Anhalt Votes in High-Stakes Election as AfD Eyes Historic Breakthrough

Voters in the eastern German state of Saxony-Anhalt went to the polls on September 6, 2026, in a closely watched Landtag election that could mark the first time a far-right party forms a state government in post-WWII Germany. Polls consistently showed the Alternative for Germany (AfD) leading with around 40-43% support, well ahead of the center-right Christian Democratic Union (CDU) at approximately 22-23%. Led by 35-year-old Ulrich Siegmund, the AfD campaigned on anti-immigration and anti-establishment themes, potentially securing an outright majority if smaller parties like the FDP and BSW fall below the 5% threshold.

The election tests Chancellor Friedrich Merz's federal government amid broader dissatisfaction in eastern states. Incumbent CDU Minister President Sven Schulze, who took office in January 2026, heads a CDU-SPD-FDP coalition that polls suggest will lose its majority. Other parties, including The Left (around 11-12%) and SPD (8-9%), are expected to enter parliament, but a "firewall" against AfD cooperation persists among mainstream parties.

This vote echoes regional trends in eastern Germany, where AfD has gained traction on issues of national identity and migration. Demonstrations supporting democracy preceded the vote, with turnout projections around 60%. Results were anticipated shortly after polls closed at 6 p.m. local time, with coalition negotiations likely to follow.