After its victory in Sunday's Saxony-Anhalt state election, Germany's far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party is seeking allies to form a state government, led by 35-year-old leader Ulrich Siegmund who won 39 seats out of 83. The AfD is looking to either attract defectors from other parties or reach an agreement with the small far-left BSW party, which has set difficult conditions for its support. According to Siegmund, discussions are underway with both the BSW and individual members of other parties to secure a stable majority. Despite winning almost 44% of the vote, the AfD is likely to have a slim majority if it secures an agreement.
Written by the local model on 2026-09-11,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
A far-right party called the Alternative for Germany (AfD) is poised to gain power in a state election in Saxony-Anhalt, which would be the first time a far-right party has held state-level power in Germany since World War II. The AfD's candidate, Ulrich Siegmund, has been campaigning on a platform that includes restricting immigration, quitting the Euro, and restoring ties with Russia. According to exit polls, the AfD is leading with around 44% of the vote, more than double its showing five years ago in the region.
This election could have significant implications for German politics and potentially signal a shift towards a harder-right path for the EU's biggest economy. The AfD has been gaining popularity in recent years, buoyed by popular disillusion with successive governments in Berlin and drawing support from formerly communist states in the east. A win for the AfD would also mean that they could overcome the "firewall" of mainstream parties' refusal to work with them.
The election is seen as a potentially historic shift in German politics, and the outcome will be closely watched by observers around the world. If the AfD does gain power, it would likely lead to significant changes in areas such as education, immigration policy, and foreign relations.
Written for “Germany's AfD Rise to Power” on 2026-09-12,
grounded in this article and the 60 other(s) covering the same event.
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Leaning score +0.35 for article 7667 (high confidence, 1 verified quote) · logged 2026-09-11
After election triumph, German far-right seeks allies to form state government
MAGDEBURG, Germany, Sept 11 -
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right → seek → government
After its triumph in Sunday's state election in Saxony-Anhalt, Germany's far-right AfD needs to attract defectors from other parties or reach an agreement with the small far-left BSW party that is setting difficult conditions in return for its support.
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that → need → support
Ulrich Siegmund, the 35-year-old AfD leader who is expected to become state premier, said there were discussions with both the BSW and individual members of other parties "to see if there is any common ground that could help secure a stable majority".
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that → expect → majority
He said he wanted to form such a majority in the state legislature "as soon as possible".
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he → say → legislature
However, there is nothing unusual in German politics about coalition negotiations that last for weeks or even months before a government can be formed.
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government → be → weeks
The discussions underline the political realities now facing Siegmund, who said repeatedly during the campaign that he wanted an absolute majority to be able to govern alone, only to fall just short, winning 39 seats in the 83-seat parliament.
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majority → underline → parliament
Even if he secures an agreement with another party that would allow him to become premier, his majority is likely to be a slim one, making governing more complicated than his record score in the election might suggest.
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score → secure → election
AFD SHUNNED BY GERMANY'S MAINSTREAM PARTIES
The Alternative for Germany (AfD) is already the country's most popular party at the national level and is seeking to secure a foothold for advancing its agenda, which includes heavy restrictions on immigration, restoring ties with Russia, cutting support to Ukraine and quitting the euro.
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which → shun → euro
However, all the other parties in Saxony-Anhalt's state parliament - as at the national level - have refused to join forces with the far-right party, with the exception of the BSW, a small far-left party that, like the AfD, wants to restrict immigration and restore ties with Russia.
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that → refuse → Russia
The BSW, which won five seats in the state parliament, has said it is interested in working with the AfD, which the Saxony-Anhalt office of Germany's domestic security agency classifies as extremist far-right.
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office → win → right
But so far the BSW has said it does not want to enter a formal coalition and wants an independent state premier, a condition that Siegmund rejects.
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Siegmund → say → that
"Just under 44% of people in Saxony-Anhalt voted for Alternative for Germany," Siegmund told reporters in Magdeburg, the state capital, on Thursday.
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Siegmund → vote → Thursday
"Naturally, our aim should be to be able to name the Minister-President."
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aim → name → President
If an agreement with the BSW cannot be reached, the most likely alternative would be to persuade some of the 15 members of Chancellor Friedrich Merz's conservative Christian Democrats (CDU) in the state parliament to switch sides and back the AfD.
Opinion within the CDU is divided over the German mainstream parties' so-called "firewall" strategy to isolate the AfD and it may be possible to induce some to switch parties.
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it → reach → parties
But so far, no confirmed defectors have been identified.
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defectors → confirm → ?
If no agreement can be reached, Siegmund has even aired the prospect of calling a new election, saying it was "something we do not, in principle, shy away from".
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we → reach → principle
"It would result from a situation where no one else is prepared to take on responsibility," he said.
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he → result → responsibility
