Germany’s far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party has won the state elections in Saxony-Anhalt, according to exit polls, with 44.5 percent of the vote, according to France 24. The result marks the first time a far-right party has taken power at a state level since World War II, according to Al Jazeera. The AfD’s co-leader, Alice Weidel, called the result a "historic" mandate for the party, though it remains unclear whether the AfD can form a government on its own. The centre-right Christian Democrats (CDU), led by Chancellor Friedrich Merz, received 18.5 percent of the vote, while the centre-left Social Democrats and environmental Greens both cleared the threshold to enter parliament.

The AfD’s lead in Saxony-Anhalt has raised concerns about the potential for a far-right state government, which could challenge Germany’s "firewall" policy that has kept extremist parties at bay. The party’s leader in Saxony-Anhalt, Ulrich Siegmund, has been hailed as a "friendly face" of the AfD, but his campaign promises include a "remigration and deportation offensive" and replacing LGBTQ pride flags with the German flag. The German Economic Institute warned that the AfD’s immigration policy could be "ruinous" for Saxony-Anhalt, which relies heavily on foreign-born workers, particularly in the health sector.

The AfD’s victory has also put pressure on Merz, whose coalition government has struggled to revive economic growth in Germany. Political scientist Wolfgang Schroeder of Kassel University noted that an AfD win in Saxony-Anhalt could lead to increased criticism of Merz and calls for better leadership. Meanwhile, the AfD’s rise has drawn opposition, with thousands gathering in Magdeburg to protest against the party, with demonstrators expressing worry about the potential for far-right sympathizers to become more visible.

The AfD’s success in Saxony-Anhalt is seen as a step toward its goal of national power in the 2029 federal elections. Siegmund, a former CDU member, has predicted an absolute majority that would lead the anti-establishment party to national victory. However, the party faces challenges, including accusations of extremism from Germany’s domestic intelligence service. The AfD has dismissed these claims as "scaremongering" and an insult to its supporters. The party’s ambitions have also drawn attention from Russian officials, with Thuringia state interior minister Georg Maier stating that the Kremlin views the AfD as an important tool for destabilizing Germany.

Despite the AfD’s gains, the party’s path to power remains uncertain. While it has won a significant share of the vote, forming a government may require alliances with other parties, which have been reluctant to cooperate due to the AfD’s association with right-wing extremism. The outcome of the Saxony-Anhalt elections has highlighted the growing influence of far-right politics in Germany, raising questions about the country’s ability to maintain its post-war political stability.