Far-right AfD wins vote in Germany’s Saxony-Anhalt state: Exit polls

Exit polls indicate that the far-right AfD party won 44.2% of the vote in the Saxony-Anhalt state election. The party is currently seeking potential coalition partners to form a government, though mainstream parties have historically refused to work with them.
Why it matters
The election outcome challenges the traditional political consensus in Germany and raises questions about the future of state-level governance in the region.
x whatsapp-stroke copylink google Add Al Jazeera on Google info AfD candidate Ulrich Siegmund and party co-leader Alice Weidel celebrate after exit polls project victory in the Saxony-Anhalt state election, on September 6, 2026 [Tobias Sschwarz/AFP] By Kristen Talman Published On 6 Sep 2026 6 Sep 2026 The Alternative for Germany (AfD) party has won the election in the eastern state of Saxony-Anhalt, according to exit polls.
AfD won 44.2 percent of the vote, exit polls for the ARD broadcaster suggested on Sunday. That is more than twice the 17.4 percent for the incumbent centre-right Christian Democrats (CDU), led by Chancellor Friedrich Merz.
“We have achieved exactly what we wanted to achieve,” said AfD’s lead candidate Ulrich Siegmund. “We have made history in this state.”
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