AfD Scores Historic Win in Saxony-Anhalt, Drawing Non-Voters
The Alternative for Germany (AfD) party achieved a historic victory in the state of Saxony-Anhalt, securing 43.8% of the vote and 39 out of 83 seats in the state parliament. This result more than doubled the party's previous performance from 2021, while the incumbent Christian Democratic Union (CDU) saw its support plummet from 37.1% to 17.2%. A key factor in the AfD's success was its ability to attract a significant number of individuals who had not voted in previous elections, alongside disillusioned CDU voters. This mobilization of politically passive citizens, rather than just redistributing votes among existing parties, is seen as a crucial element of their strategy.
The AfD's campaign focused on easily understandable issues such as migration, security, prices, the economy, and energy, resonating with voters less engaged in complex political discourse. The party presented a simple narrative: problems exist, the political establishment has failed to solve them, and the AfD is ready to "restore order." The candidate, Ulrich Siegmund, cultivated an image as an approachable figure, traveling the region on a moped and engaging directly with residents, contrasting himself with distant professional politicians.
Public trust in the AfD's ability to solve state problems surged, with 36% viewing them as the most competent party in summer 2026, up from 9% in 2021. Conversely, the CDU's competence rating dropped from 40% to 16% in the same period, suggesting the AfD is increasingly perceived as a viable governing option, not just a protest vote.
The AfD's platform centered on drastically reducing migration, accelerating deportations, and implementing stricter asylum policies. They also emphasized security, advocating for increased law enforcement powers and harsher penalties. Economically, the party promised lower energy costs and an end to climate policies deemed detrimental to German industry, a particularly relevant issue in energy-intensive Saxony-Anhalt. In education, the AfD called for a return to basic knowledge and traditional curricula, opposing what they term the "ideologization" of education.
Despite the strong showing, the AfD fell short of an absolute majority, requiring 42 seats to form a government independently. Other major parties have maintained a policy of refusing coalition with the AfD, creating a political standoff. The AfD's success in expanding its base, particularly by engaging previously inactive voters, is considered a significant and potentially alarming development for the German political center, indicating a greater potential reach than previously measured.
Regarding Israel and Jewish communities, the AfD presents a complex picture. While the party officially supports Israel and strongly condemns Islamism and antisemitism, some members have made controversial statements about Israel and Germany's Holocaust responsibility. Josef Schuster, President of the Central Council of Jews in Germany, labeled Siegmund and another AfD official as "declared opponents of an open society." Concerns exist about how a potential AfD government might influence the teaching of Holocaust history and contemporary antisemitism in schools. A notable incident involved Siegmund's use of Simson mopeds, a brand founded by a Jewish family whose assets were confiscated by the Nazis, which descendants found offensive.
