The Alternative for Germany, known for its anti-mass migration stance, is poised for a significant win in the Saxony-Anhalt state elections on Sunday.
Exit polls by Infratest Dimap for ARD indicate that the Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) has achieved a remarkable 44.5 percent of the vote, Die Welt reported.
This would represent the best result for the nationalist party since it was established, more than doubling its support compared to the 2021 elections in the former East German territory.
Interestingly, this result is more than double that of its closest competitor, Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s Christian Democratic Union (CDU), which is projected to receive just 18.5 percent of the vote, a significant drop from 37.1 percent in 2021.
In addition, exit polls suggest that three other parties are likely to exceed the five percent threshold needed to gain seats in the state parliament.
These include Die Linke (The Left), which is forecasted to obtain 9.5 percent, as it is a direct successor to the Socialist Unity Party (SED) that ruled East Germany.
The Greens are expected to get around 9 percent, followed by the Social Democratic Party (SPD) at 8 percent, and the Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance (BSW) at 5 percent, all anticipated to enter the Saxony-Anhalt parliament.
However, this scenario could complicate the AfD’s ambitions to control the state, as the distribution of seats might prevent them from achieving an absolute majority.
Given the CDU’s long-standing policy of avoiding any collaboration with the AfD, it’s doubtful they would form a coalition with this rising populist party.
Ulrich Siegmund, the AfD’s lead candidate, celebrated their “historic” success and extended an olive branch to the CDU, stating: “As a democrat, I will always extend my hand to all forces that will help us achieve a political turnaround.”
But, if the CDU declines—something anticipated—they may seek to forge a minority coalition with the leftist Social Democrats, similar to arrangements at the national level, potentially involving the Greens and the tacit support of the far-left Die Linke.
The current CDU Minister-President of the state, Sven Schulze, acknowledged the AfD’s victory but didn’t comment on the possibility of a coalition.
“I think it’s clear that we would all have wished for a better result in every respect,” Schulze remarked. “We, as the CDU, will also have to grapple with this outcome.”
“Some say this represents a dark day for Saxony-Anhalt. I choose to view it as democracy,” he added.
Regardless of any coalition negotiations that may arise, the AfD’s substantial victory has been recognized by populists across Europe as a notable stride towards challenging the longstanding open-border political norm prevalent on the continent.
Italian Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini commented that this victory was a “resounding success that underscores the robust demand for change, security, and jobs, standing against those on the left who incite fears and dire predictions.”
“Fear? Terror? Danger? No, it’s called DEMOCRACY. Another Europe is possible.”
Meanwhile, former French presidential candidate Eric Zemmour noted: “Voters will bear the blame. The real culprits are those who, for decades, criminalized what people felt was an obvious truth: the desire to remain true to themselves.”
“The cordon sanitaire has never safeguarded anyone. It has merely postponed the unavoidable truth. That truth is now here. And it will resonate everywhere.”
