Germany's Far-Right AfD Achieves Record Victory in Saxony-Anhalt, Falls Short of Majority
The Alternative for Germany (AfD) secured a significant victory in the state election in Saxony-Anhalt, an eastern German state, on Sunday, September 6, 2026, with 43.8% of the vote. This marks the party's best result in its 13-year history, though it did not achieve an absolute majority.
The short version
- The Alternative for Germany (AfD) won 43.8% of the vote in Saxony-Anhalt's state election on September 6, 2026.
- This result more than doubled the AfD's 23.7% performance in the 2021 Saxony-Anhalt election.
- The 43.8% vote share is the best the AfD has ever achieved and the highest for a far-right party in Germany since 1945.
- The AfD secured 39 seats in the 83-member state parliament, three seats shy of the 42 required for an absolute majority.
- The incumbent Christian Democratic Union (CDU) polled 17.2%, a significant decrease from its 37.1% in 2021.
The Alternative for Germany (AfD) secured a significant victory in the state election in Saxony-Anhalt, an eastern German state, on Sunday, September 6, 2026, receiving 43.8% of the vote. This result marks the best performance in the AfD's 13-year history and represents the highest vote share for a far-right party in Germany since 1945, though it fell short of an absolute majority in the state parliament.
Reports from The Guardian, CBS News, TIME, Euractiv, The Washington Post, and Al Jazeera have confirmed the results of the election in Saxony-Anhalt, a state with approximately 2.1 million residents whose capital is Magdeburg.
How historic is this result for the AfD?
This election represents a substantial gain for the AfD, a populist, far-right, anti-immigration party. According to preliminary final results, the AfD secured 43.8% of the vote. Other reports based on exit polls and interim counts cited slightly varied figures, including 44%, 44.1%, 44.4%, or 44.5%. This outcome more than doubled the AfD's previous performance in Saxony-Anhalt, where it received 23.7% in the 2021 state election. Germany's domestic intelligence agency classifies the AfD's Saxony-Anhalt branch as "right-wing extremist" and places it under surveillance, accusations the party vehemently rejects.
What was the parliamentary outcome?
Despite its strong showing, the AfD did not achieve an absolute majority in the 83-member state parliament (Landtag). The party won 39 seats, falling three seats short of the 42 required for a majority. The size of the parliament had been reduced from 97 to 83 seats prior to this election.
How did other parties perform?
The Christian Democratic Union (CDU), led nationally by Chancellor Friedrich Merz, saw a significant decline. The incumbent governor for Saxony-Anhalt, Sven Schulze (CDU), saw his party poll 17.2%, a considerable decrease from 37.1% in 2021, securing 15 seats. The Social Democrats (SPD) received 9.3% of the vote, winning 8 seats, while the Greens polled 8.9%, also earning 8 seats. The Left (Die Linke) received 8.6% of the vote.
Frequently asked questions
Where did the state election take place?
The state election took place in Saxony-Anhalt, an eastern German state with approximately 2.1 million residents. Its capital is Magdeburg.
What is the Alternative for Germany (AfD)?
The AfD is a populist, far-right, anti-immigration political party in Germany. Its Saxony-Anhalt branch is classified as "right-wing extremist" by Germany's domestic intelligence agency, an accusation the AfD rejects.
Reported by the RevReck Newsroom from the reporting linked below, with AI assistance in drafting, under editorial rules covering accuracy, attribution and what we will not publish. Read our editorial standards, or email corrections to operations@revreck.com.