Alternative for Germany wins Saxony-Anhalt state election with plurality

Germany's far-right AfD party won the state election in Saxony-Anhalt on 6 September 2026, taking around 44% of the vote. The second-place CDU received only 18.5%. No far-right party has held power in a German state since World War II. It is still unclear if the AfD won enough seats for a majority. The AfD's candidate for governor, Ulrich Siegmund, said his party will not join a coalition with others. If the AfD falls short of a majority, the CDU could lead a coalition government instead. This happened in Thuringia two years ago, when the CDU formed a government after the AfD finished first but did not take power.