Alternative for Germany party set for regional election triumph and could form the country’s first far-right state government since World War II

Germany's Alternative for Germany (AfD) party is projected to win a significant victory in the regional election of Saxony-Anhalt, a state located in the east of the country. The AfD party, led by unpopular Chancellor Friedrich Merz, is seen as a potential candidate to form the first far-right state government since World War II.

The party's candidate for governor, Ulrich Siegmund, stated that the election results signal a change in public opinion and a rejection of the status quo. The projected results have put AfD at about 44% of the vote, more than double its showing five years ago in the region. If the AfD can form a government, it would be a major achievement for the party's anti-migration and Russia-friendly platform, which has gained widespread support in the formerly communist and less prosperous east of Germany.

However, it remains unclear whether AfD can secure an absolute majority in the state legislature, and the outcome may depend on the formation of alliances with smaller parties.