Ulrich Siegmund leads the AfD to a historic victory in the Saxony-Anhalt state election

The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party secured a historic victory in the Saxony-Anhalt state election, winning 44.4% of the vote. Ulrich Siegmund, the AfD lead candidate, campaigned on a platform of strict immigration policies, a hard line on migration, and a desire to reconnect with Russia. Despite the win, the AfD fell just short of an absolute majority, finishing with 39 seats in an 83-member parliament. This result marks a significant setback for Chancellor Friedrich Merz, whose conservative party trailed with 18.3% of the vote. Siegmund expressed gratitude for the support of Elon Musk and stated that the party would seek to return to sensible diplomacy with both Russia and the United States. The AfD's victory is notable as it is the first time a far-right party has gained power at the state level in Germany since the second world war. While mainstream parties have shown a reluctance to cooperate with the AfD due to Germany's Nazi past, the party remains the most popular party nationally.

Sources

• The Guardian
  Germany’s far-right AfD thanks Elon Musk as France warns state election win a ‘serious moment’
• CNN
  Germany’s far-right AfD win historic victory, but fall short of majority in Saxony-Anhalt
• CNBC
  CNBC Daily Open: Germany's right wins, Ukraine's stalemate and air travel incidents

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Paywall and unreadable sources

• bloomberg.com
  German Business Owners Urge Faster Reforms After AfD Victory
• The New York Times
  AfD Victory in Saxony-Anhalt Sends a Signal to Europe