World news | The Guardian
· collected 2026-09-07 · by Staff and agencies
Ulrich Siegmund, the lead candidate of the far-right Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) party, thanked Elon Musk on social media for his support after the party's historic state election victory in Germany's Saxony-Anhalt region. The AfD more than doubled its support to 43.8% and is on the brink of becoming the first far-right party to gain power at state level since World War II. French Europe minister Benjamin Haddad warned that this win is a "serious moment" for Europe, while Donald Tusk, prime minister of Poland, called it a "triumph" to be regretted by only "idiots or traitors". The AfD fell three seats short of an absolute majority in the 83-member parliament.
Written by the local model on 2026-09-07,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
In a closely watched regional election, Germany's far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party is poised to gain power in the eastern state of Saxony-Anhalt. The AfD is expected to secure at least 44% of the vote, more than double its showing five years ago, according to exit polls. This would give the party a significant majority and potentially mark the first time a far-right party has held state-level power in Germany since World War II.
The AfD's rise to prominence is seen as a threat to mainstream parties, including Chancellor Friedrich Merz's Christian Democratic Union (CDU), which is currently leading the state. The party's success is attributed to its promise to restrict immigration and restore ties with Russia, as well as its charismatic leader, Ulrich Siegmund.
A victory for the AfD in Saxony-Anhalt would be a significant milestone for the party, which has been gaining momentum in recent years. It could also have broader implications for German politics, potentially leading to a shift towards a harder line on immigration and European integration.
Experts warn that an AfD government could lead to significant changes in areas such as education and foreign policy, including creating separate classrooms for refugees and promoting a patriotism agenda that focuses less on the country's Nazi past. The party has also been accused of adopting tactics inspired by President Trump, including casting doubt on the integrity of absentee voting.
The outcome of the election is still uncertain, but it is clear that the AfD's rise to power would be a historic event with significant implications for Germany and Europe.
Written for “Far-Right Party's Rise in Germany” on 2026-09-07,
grounded in this article and the 41 other(s) covering the same event.
Why this leaning score
The article's own words the score was based on. Each is quoted
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Leaning score -0.70 for article 6631 (high confidence, 1 verified quote) · logged 2026-09-07
The candidate who led the far-right Alternative für Deutschland party to a historic state election victory in Germany has thanked Elon Musk for his support, as one French minister warned that this was a “serious moment” for Europe.
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this → lead → Europe
The AfD more than doubled its support in the Saxony-Anhalt region and appears to be on the brink of becoming the first far-right party to gain power in Germany at state level since the second world war.
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AfD → double → war
On Sunday night, Ulrich Siegmund, the AfD’s lead candidate, thanked Musk on X “for your support and for your clear and highly important perspective on the political developments of our time”, adding: “I would very much welcome the opportunity for strong and constructive cooperation”.
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I → thank → cooperation
Siegmund wrote his comments after Musk said “Well done!” in German to AfD co-founder Alice Weidel, when she posted about the projected win.
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she → write → win
Earlier, US president Donald Trump posted a screenshot of the election projection without comment on his Truth Social site.
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Trump → post → site
Russian presidential envoy Kirill Dmitriev took a screengrab of Trump’s post and praised a “historic win for the pragmatic AfD”.
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Dmitriev → take → AfD
AfD is pro-Kremlin, urging a stop to support for Ukraine and pushing for Ukrainians to no longer receive refugee status.
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Ukrainians → urge → status
Despite its resounding victory, AfD fell just short of winning a majority.
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AfD → fall → majority
The party was seeking an absolute majority in the state legislature to govern alone and overcome the so-called firewall of mainstream parties’ refusal to work with AfD.
Final results showed AfD falling three seats short, with 39 lawmakers in an 83-member parliament.
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AfD → seek → parliament
However, it still remains unclear as to how and whether the AfD will be able to form a government, having ruled out entering a coalition and being refused any form of cooperation by the mainstream parties.
uncertain
AfD → remain → parties
AfD won 43.8% of the vote, more than double its showing five years ago in the region of 2.1 million people west of Berlin.
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AfD → win → Berlin
That was far ahead of Friedrich Merz’s Christian Democratic Union, which polled 17.2% – losing about half its support – and won 15 seats.
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which → poll → seats
The centre-left Social Democrats polled 9.3%, the Greens 8.9% and the Left party 8.6%, winning eight seats apiece.
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party → poll → seats
The BSW party, which has said it wouldn’t elect either Siegmund or incumbent Sven Schulze as governor but criticises the “firewall” against AfD, took 5.3% and fives seats.
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it → say → %
France’s Europe minister, Benjamin Haddad, described the win as “a serious moment in Europe”, warning that “nationalism and xenophobia will never be a solution”.
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nationalism → describe → Europe
“We must listen with humility to the anger, the concerns, the fears, and respond to them,” he added.
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he → listen → them
“We cannot forget our history.
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We → forget → history
That is the meaning behind the choices made by France and Germany.”
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That → make → France
Donald Tusk, the prime minister of Poland, said: “In Poland, only idiots or traitors can rejoice at the triumph of the AfD in Germany.”
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idiots → say → Germany
The German Economic Institute has warned of the far-reaching consequences for the German economy, in Saxony-Anhalt and beyond.
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Institute → warn → Anhalt
It said the AfD’s immigration policy would be “calamitous” for the state, which has an ageing, dwindling population and is heavily dependent on foreign workers.
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which → say → workers
Critics have also warned that an AfD-run state, due to the Kremlin-friendly stance of the party, could leak sensitive information to Russia.
uncertain
state → warn → Russia
The AfD has dismissed such claims.
uncertain
AfD → dismiss → claims
It has said it would seek to reform the domestic intelligence service, calling it biased.
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it → say → it
