How Politics and Media Turned the Right into a Dominant Force in Saxony-Anhalt
The AfD achieved a historic vote share in Saxony-Anhalt, while left-leaning media and civil groups failed to curb its rise.
The latest state election in Saxony-Anhalt saw the AfD obtain an unprecedented share of the vote, marking a significant breakthrough for the party. Prior to the poll, a coalition of left-leaning media outlets, NGOs and cultural figures organized a massive publicity drive, deploying hundreds of billboards and hosting a large “Democracy Festival” with speakers such as Luisa Neubauer and Carolin Emcke. Publications like one outlet and Die Zeit produced sensational headlines and special editions that were later turned into rallying symbols for AfD supporters.
Despite the scale of the anti-AfD mobilization, the party’s vote share rose dramatically, while voter turnout reached a historic high. Commentators argue that the long-standing strategy of branding any opposition as “right-wing” or “Nazi” has become ineffective, turning the label into a commonplace insult that no longer deters voters.
How this story developed
- Sep 6 AfD poised for historic win as Saxony-Anhalt election draws massive voter turnout
- Sep 6 The CDU publicly acknowledges a severe loss in the Saxony‑Anhalt election.
- Sep 7 Final seat projections released showing AfD with 39 seats and CDU with 16 seats.
- Sep 7 Final results confirm the Landtag has 83 members, the CDU holds 15 seats and the BSW secured five seats while signalling willingness to cooperate on selected issues.
- Sep 8 Günter Krings, a member of the German Bundestag, described the recent Saxony-Anhalt vote as far worse than expected, with the AfD securing 43.8% of the ballots. He argued the CDU should not entertain discussions about replacing Chancellor Friedrich Merz so soon after the far-right's victory. Krings urged the party to focus on rebuilding its credibility and blamed EU decisions for part of voter anger. The CDU’s share fell to 17.2%, roughly half of its previous support.
- Sep 9 Former US president Donald Trump praised the Alternative for Germany (AfD) after its impressive result in Saxony-Anhalt, blaming the country's immigration policies.
- Sep 9 Trump posted a congratulatory message to the AfD on Truth Social after the Saxony‑Anhalt results.
- Sep 9 Merz and AfD leader Alice Weidel clashed in a Bundestag budget debate following the Saxony‑Anhalt result.
- Sep 10 A new Insa poll shows the CDU sliding sharply in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, while the SPD narrows the gap with the AfD and smaller parties risk missing the threshold.
- Sep 10 Claudia Obert resigned from the CDU and Tino Schomann publicly demanded Merz’s resignation.
- Sep 11 Only the BSW agreed to talks as all other parties declined, and Chancellor Merz rebuked Donald Trump’s congratulatory post.
- Sep 11 A new poll confirms the AfD’s continued lead while the CDU’s support keeps slipping.
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