In brief
German far‑right Alternative for Germany (AfD) is poised for a decisive win in the eastern state of Saxony‑Anhalt, with exit polls projecting 44‑44½% of the vote to the party and only 18.5% for the conservative CDU. AfD leader Ulrich Siegmund has called the result historic and denied the possibility of ruling through a coalition. No far‑right party has governed a German state since the end of World War Two, and state control would give AfD jurisdiction over policing, local education and culture. The state's population of 2.1 million and domestic intelligence’s labeling of the AfD as a “far‑right extremist” add complexity to the political fallout.
Germany's AfD is heading for a big victory in Saxony‑Anhalt, far ahead of its mainstream rivals, exit polls indicate.
The far‑right party is projected to win 44‑44.5% of the vote, while the conservative CDU lags at 18.5%.
AfD has hailed the result as a historical outcome, and the charismatic state leader Ulrich Siegmund has refused to rule with any other party.
No far‑right party has taken state control in Germany since World War Two; governing would grant powers over policing, local education and culture.
Saxony‑Anhalt has a population of 2.1 million. Domestic intelligence classifies the state AfD as far‑right extremist, a label rejected by Siegmund.
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