AfD Moves Within Reach of Power, BSW May Be Kingmaker in Saxony-Anhalt

Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) has won the Saxony-Anhalt election decisively, bringing a party that has spent years behind the Brandmauer, Germany's political firewall, to within just three seats of governing a federal state alone for the first time.

Amid a record turnout of close to 78%, AfD won 43.8% of the vote and 39 of the 83 seats in the Landtag. The CDU, which had secured 37.1% in 2021, fell to 17.2% and was left with 15 MPs. The SPD won eight seats, the Greens another eight, Die Linke eight, and BSW five. An absolute majority requires 42 seats.