Saxony-Anhalt: Far-right AfD eyes power in German state vote
Although the eastern state accounts for less than 3% of the nationwide electorate, the election outcome could serve as a bellwether about the far-right AFD's prospects in the rest of the country. DW has the latest.
Today marks election day in Saxony-Anhalt, a state in Germany which is currently under the control of the center-right Christian Democratic Union (CDU). The state has a rich cultural and historical heritage, and is home to around 2.1 million people, making it one of the sparsely populated states in the country.
The main political parties in Saxony-Anhalt are the CDU and the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD). The CDU has been in power since 2002, but the AfD has been dominating the polls in recent months, typically drawing support in the 40% range. This has led to a polarizing election, reminiscent of events in the UK with Brexit and the 2016 US presidential election between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump.
If the AfD comes out on top, they would become Saxony-Anhalt's largest party for the first time, with the other major parties ruling out a coalition with them. This means they would likely need to secure an outright majority in order to govern. However, a broader coalition made up of other parties is also a potential outcome.
A key aspect to watch after the election will be the results of the exit polls and preliminary results. One of the requirements for a party to be represented in the state parliament is to obtain at least 5% of party-list votes, known as second votes. If smaller parties fall below this threshold, they will lose representation, which could allow the AfD to secure an outright majority if enough smaller parties fail to clear the threshold. This could have significant implications for the political landscape in Germany.
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