Full Breakdown
Massive Protests Follow AfD’s Near-Majority Win in Saxony-Anhalt
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The Election Upset and Immediate Reaction
On September 6, the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) secured 43.8 % of the vote in the Saxony-Anhalt state election, winning 39 of 83 seats—three seats short of an absolute majority and the strongest far-right result in a German state election since World War II.
Two days later, demonstrations erupted in roughly 20 German cities. Organisers estimated about 150,000 protesters nationwide, including ?25,000 in Hamburg and ?12,000 in Munich; police reported several thousand participants in Berlin. Demonstrators carried slogans such as “Ban the AfD now” and “Democracy needs no alternatives.” The AfD held a counter-demonstration in Berlin, attended by lead candidate Kristin Brinker.
Background & Context
The AfD, founded in 2013, is characterised by anti-immigration rhetoric and a Russia-friendly stance. Germany’s domestic intelligence agency has classified the Saxony-Anhalt branch as right-wing extremist since 2023, citing a threat to democratic norms. Calls to ban the party have grown among civil-society groups, but Chancellor Friedrich Merz of the CDU remains sceptical, pointing to legal hurdles.
Data & Statistics
- AfD vote share: 43.8 % (official results).
- Seats won: 39 of 83.
- Protest participation: ~150,000 total; 25,000 (Hamburg), 12,000 (Munich), several thousand (Berlin).
- Right-wing extremist crimes: Saxony-Anhalt recorded the second-highest per-capita rate among Germany’s 16 states last year.
Official Statements & Responses
Christoph Bautz, head of the campaign group Campact, said a broad cross-section of civil society was mobilising to keep the AfD out of government power. Chancellor Merz reiterated his reluctance to ban the party, emphasizing constitutional safeguards. AfD candidate Ulrich Siegmund stated his goal of becoming Minister-President and expressed a desire to work alongside federal Chancellor Alice Weidel. Germany’s domestic intelligence agency warned that the AfD’s regional influence could be used to pressure minorities, including immigrants, Muslims and Jews.
Criticism & Opposition
Gideon Botsch, head of the Emil Julius Gumbel Research Unit at Potsdam University, noted the AfD’s ability to mobilise its own constituency while democratic rivals struggle. Political scientist Roger Stöcker argued that even modest local gains would constitute a “strategically significant success” for the party.
Why It Matters
If the AfD forms a coalition, it would be the first extreme-right state government in Germany since World II, giving it influence over policing, parts of the judiciary, and cultural funding.
What’s Next
Regional elections are scheduled for September 20 in Berlin and Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, where the AfD is polling around 35 % in Berlin and aims to replicate its eastern success. Negotiations for a coalition in Saxony-Anhalt continue as the AfD seeks partners among dissenting lawmakers.
Verbatim Quotes
- “A broad cross-section of civil society is taking to the streets to prevent the enemies of the constitution, the AfD in Saxony-Anhalt, from gaining government power,” — Christoph Bautz
- “From previous elections, we know that the AfD is currently able to mobilize almost totally its own constituency and potential voters, while its democratic competitors have much more problems,” — Gideon Botsch
- “It’s conceivable that the AfD wins a town hall or a county administration here and there or strengthens its presence in local councils, expanding its local base,” — Roger Stöcker, political scientist at Otto von Guericke University in Magdeburg