Germany's AfD Won a State Election in a Landslide, Sounding an Alarm for Centrist Politics

Updated on: September 7, 2026 / 12:13 PM EDT / CBS News

Germany's AfD Won a State Election in a Landslide, Sounding an Alarm for Centrist Politics

TL;DR

  • The AfD achieved its best-ever result with 43.8% of the vote in Saxony-Anhalt's legislative election.
  • This result more than doubled the AfD's share from the previous state election in 2021.
  • The CDU experienced a significant decline, receiving only 17.2% of the vote, down from 37.1% in 2021.
  • The AfD won 39 out of 83 seats, falling short of the absolute majority needed to form an all-AfD government.
  • Other parties have formed a "firewall" and rejected coalition government with the AfD.
  • The Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance (BSW), with 5.3% of the vote, has not ruled out abstaining in a vote for minister-president.
  • The AfD's success is forcing other parties to reconsider long-standing political boundaries.
  • AfD co-chair Alice Weidel, a potential candidate for chancellor in 2029, aims to significantly increase the party's national vote share.