Story perspectives

AfD Wins 44% in Saxony-Anhalt, Becomes Largest Party

By Drooid · Sep 18, 2026, 11:09 PM UTC · How we work

Center

Merz leadership crisis

The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) won 44% in the Saxony-Anhalt state election on 6 September 2026, becoming the largest party.
The result sparked a leadership crisis for Chancellor Friedrich Merz and the CDU, whose poll ratings fell, with Merz’s approval at 14% nationally.
91% of Saxony-Anhalt AfD voters fear immigration; Merz’s eastern-state approval is single-digit.
SPD premier Manuela Schwesig, over 60% approval, is expected to keep AfD from Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania parliament.

Left

AfD Deportation Threats

The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) won 44 % of the vote in the Saxony-Anhalt state election on 6 September 2026, becoming the largest party.
The outcome sparked despair among immigrant communities and activists who fear a far-right coalition could impose anti-immigrant policies.
AfD promises include deportations, replacing foreign workers with Germans, nationalist education, and cutting NGO funding.
Ulrich Siegmund, the AfD candidate, said he was prepared to use military equipment for deportations.

Blindspot

AfD lead candidate Ulrich Siegmund said he was prepared to use military equipment to carry out deportations of refugees during the campaign.
Within this story's sources, this angle appears mainly in Left-leaning coverage and receives less attention in Center-leaning coverage.

History

Historical Context

Founded in 2013, AfD missed the 5% threshold that year but broke through in the 2017 federal election, winning 12.6% of the vote and 94 Bundestag seats—the first right-of-CDU/CSU representation since 1957. Its strength in former East German states, especially Saxony, has grown, leading to a 44% victory in the recent Saxony-Anhalt poll, pressuring the CDU.

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Merz leadership crisis

The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) won 44% in the Saxony-Anhalt state election on 6 September 2026, becoming the largest party.
The result sparked a leadership crisis for Chancellor Friedrich Merz and the CDU, whose poll ratings fell, with Merz’s approval at 14% nationally.
91% of Saxony-Anhalt AfD voters fear immigration; Merz’s eastern-state approval is single-digit.
SPD premier Manuela Schwesig, over 60% approval, is expected to keep AfD from Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania parliament.

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