AfD wins roughly 44% in Saxony‑Anhalt election, falls short of majority
In the state election in Saxony‑Anhalt, the Alternative for Germany (AfD) secured about 44% of the vote but missed a parliamentary majority by three seats. A fringe left‑wing group, the BSW, holds five seats and could influence whether the AfD is able to form a government. Chancellor Friedrich Merz aborted his scheduled appearance at the United Nations General Assembly to focus on coalition negotiations at home. The result has prompted EU insiders to voice concern about the implications for German domestic politics and the broader European context, while analysts note that Germany is already grappling with stagnant economic performance and high unemployment.
Why it matters
The election outcome could reshape Germany’s governing coalitions and affect the country’s role within the European Union.
How the sides frame it
LOW AGREEMENTLeft-leaning coverage frames the story as a philosopher warning that the AfD is echoing early Nazi dynamics, center coverage frames it as reporting the AfD’s alliances with ultranationalist and banned neo-Nazi groups, while right-leaning coverage frames it as a journalist’s alarm that the AfD is using Nazi-era slogans and threatening minorities.
CENTER
Center coverage presents the story as reporting the AfD’s connections with ultranationalist secessionists and a banned neo-Nazi youth organization.
RIGHT
Right-leaning coverage presents the story as highlighting a journalist’s claim that the AfD is employing Nazi-style slogans and endangering migrants and LGBTQ people.
The right emphasises
- Ulrike Herrmann accuses AfD of chanting Nazi-style slogans and adopting SA-like methods
- warns that an AfD win could deny migrants and LGBTQ people German status
- claims many police officers ignore the Grundgesetz and right-wing violence is rising
How this story developed
- Sep 13 Sloterdijk’s interview at the Hay Festival added new commentary on the AfD’s trajectory.
- Sep 18 Eight state premiers issued a joint communiqué reaffirming support for Chancellor Merz.
- Sep 20 Recent polls show the SPD narrowing the gap with the AfD in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, while the CDU lingers just above the entry threshold and smaller parties risk missing seats. In Berlin, the SPD has slipped behind but remains a contender, and no party appears set for an outright majority, making a three-party coalition likely. Possible alliances include red-green-red or black-green-red blocs, with a potential surprise from the Greens, and incumbent mayor Kai Wegner is not running again.
- Sep 20 Polls now show Die Linke slightly ahead of the CDU in Berlin and the AfD closing on the SPD in Mecklenburg‑Vorpommern.
- Sep 20 Chancellor Friedrich Merz admitted his CDU suffered a crushing defeat in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, where the AfD reached 37% while the CDU fell to 5.5%.
- Sep 20 AfD emerged as the largest party in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern’s state election, but Manuela Schwesig of the SPD will receive the mandate to form a government.
- Sep 20 AfD emerged as the front‑runner in Mecklenburg‑Vorpommern and Die Linke topped the Berlin vote.
- Sep 21 The CDU failed to clear the 5% threshold in Mecklenburg‑Vorpommern, losing all its seats in the state parliament.
- Sep 21 Elif Eralp, the daughter of Turkish left-wing refugees, was named Die Linke's lead candidate for the Berlin mayoral race, drawing parallels to New York mayor Bill de Blasio’s predecessor.
- Sep 21 Hamburg party chairman Dennis Thering called for Chancellor Merz to seek a confidence vote in the Bundestag.
- Sep 21 CDU failed to win any seats in the Mecklenburg‑Vorpommern parliament.
- Sep 21 The Greens announced they will seek a red‑green‑red coalition with the Left and SPD.
- Sep 21 AfD received about 44% of the vote in Saxony‑Anhalt, falling short of a majority by three seats.
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