Full Breakdown
BSW’s Electoral Surge and AfD’s Near-Majority in Saxony-Anhalt
9/9/2026, 7:43:19 AM
Core Event
In the September 6 state election in Saxony-Anhalt, the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) secured 44 % of the vote, falling just short of an absolute majority and leaving the formation of a governing coalition uncertain. The newly created Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance (BSW), founded in January 2024, achieved a “spectacular start” by winning seats in the state parliament and positioning itself as a potential kingmaker. Wagenknecht publicly suggested that BSW could help AfD lead candidate Ulrich Siegmund become state premier by abstaining from the confidence vote, a scenario she raised before the September 6 election.
Background and Party Development
BSW split from the socialist Left Party and quickly entered the European Parliament, later attaining double-digit vote shares in three state elections. The party entered governing coalitions in Brandenburg and Thuringia, although internal disputes later caused its Brandenburg coalition to collapse and prompted BSW lawmakers in Thuringia to leave the party two days before the Saxony-Anhalt vote while remaining in the CDU-led state government. BSW’s platform emphasizes a strict refugee policy and opposition to any German military support for Ukraine or Israel.
Official Statements & Responses
AfD lead candidate Siegmund reiterated his pre-election intention to govern only with an outright majority, rejecting coalition compromises. Although Wagenknecht is no longer BSW’s chairwoman, she remains the party’s most visible figure and continues to influence strategy from behind the scenes. In a post-election interview with the German news agency dpa, she declared that the party’s “comeback has begun.” Finance Minister Katja Wolf of Saxony-Anhalt warned that BSW’s overtures to the AfD amounted to “flirts with right-wing radicals,” underscoring internal resistance to any alliance.
What’s Next
The durability of BSW’s rise will be tested on September 20, when parliamentary elections are scheduled in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania and the city-state of Berlin. Observers will watch whether the party can replicate its Saxony-Anhalt performance and further influence Germany’s fragmented political landscape.
