Germany's far-right AfD says 'democracy demands' parties work with them after state election win

The Alternative for Germany (AfD) party achieved a significant victory in the eastern state of Saxony-Anhalt, coming impressively close to holding state-level power for the first time since World War II. AfD secured thirty-nine seats out of eighty-three in the state parliament, receiving forty-four percent of the vote according to early estimates.

This tally fell three seats short of an absolute majority needed to govern unilaterally. Party leaders hailed the result as a watershed moment for the region, with co-leader Alice Weidel proclaiming, “The people have shown very clearly that they finally want political change. Above all, they’ve shown that they want it with us.” The far-right party's triumph reverberated far beyond Saxony-Anhalt, drawing reactions from political figures worldwide.

U.S. President Donald Trump shared the exit polls on social media, while Russian presidential envoy Kirill Dmitriev hailed the outcome as a humiliation for Germany’s ruling coalition. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk voiced sharp opposition, calling those who celebrated the victory “idiots and traitors.” While coalition-building proved a formidable challenge, mainstream parties staunchly refused any partnership with the AfD, classifying it as a right-wing extremist organization.

AfD leaders, however, engaged in dialogue with other parties, with national co-chair Tino Chrupalla suggesting a hand to all parties, but AfD co-leader Ulrich Siegmund ruled out a partnership with the far-left Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance, deeming them part of the problem. Analysts noted that minority rule or repeated elections might become realities should coalition talks fail.

The electoral setback in Saxony-Anhalt posed a formidable test to Chancellor Friedrich Merz and the governing coalition in Berlin, whose regional vote share was halved. AfD co-leader Weidel publicly demanded the chancellor's removal and predicted federal elections before Christmas. Social Democratic leaders acknowledged the vote as a stark warning to Berlin.

Notably, Holocaust survivor and Munich Jewish community leader Charlotte Knobloch admitted the results frightened her and urged mainstream politicians to halt what she saw as a democratic decline. As regional leaders grappled with an unprecedented parliamentary arithmetic devoid of clear precedents, the structural stability of Germany’s long-standing political consensus found itself facing a critical test.

Observers across Europe observed closely to determine whether this eastern breakthrough would permanently reshape federal alliances or trigger a profound reassessment of domestic governance.