Far-right AfD wins key German state election but may fail to secure majority
Exit poll shows Alternative für Deutschland on 44.4% of vote in Saxony-Anhalt after huge turnout, with votes still being counted
TL;DR
- The far-right AfD is projected to win a German state election with 44.4% of the vote, a historic result doubling its support.
- It is unclear if the AfD can form a government as it has ruled out coalitions and other parties refuse cooperation.
- The CDU, led by Friedrich Merz, trailed significantly with 18.4% of the vote.
- Other parties like Die Linke (9.3%), the Social Democrats (8.4%), and the Greens (8.7%) also saw lower results, while the BSW reached the 5% hurdle.
- Participation was at a record high of 76.5%.
- The AfD's lead candidate, Ulrich Siegmund, declared history was made and expressed readiness for political change, focusing on migration and security.
- The CDU called the result 'bitter' and reaffirmed its refusal to govern with the AfD, classified as 'rightwing extremist' by Germany's domestic intelligence agency.
- Potential AfD policies if in power include a 'remigration and deportation offensive', banning rainbow flags in schools, and halting wind farm construction.
- The German Economic Institute warned of calamitous consequences for the state's economy due to AfD's immigration policies.
- Critics also raised concerns about potential information leaks to Russia due to the AfD's stance towards the Kremlin.