Andrea Innocenti September 6 marked a turning point in the Saxony-Anhalt election , where the Alternative for Germany party garnered 43,8 percent of the vote, winning 39 of the 83 seats in the regional parliament. This result, significantly higher than the 2021 figure, brings the party closer to the threshold of an absolute majority —set at 42 seats—but falls short.
The outcome opens a phase of negotiations in which the small but decisive BSW group led by Sahra Wagenknecht takes on a strategic weight.
Results, numbers and implications for the presidency of the Landtag
The AfD 's electoral strength in the region was accompanied by an extraordinary turnout: the round saw a record turnout of 78 percent of eligible voters.
With 39 seats, the party remains three seats shy of the legal majority: the law stipulates that if an absolute majority is not achieved in the first two rounds of voting for governor , a simple majority is sufficient in the third round. This mechanism places the BSW in a potentially decisive position: its five seats could determine whether the AfD wins the presidency of the Landtag and, in effect, control of many regional institutional decisions.
The role of BSW and public statements
The party led by Sahra Wagenknecht, which entered parliament by surpassing the 5 percent threshold , has already expressed its willingness to weigh in on the presidential vote. The party's newly elected MP declared: " The AfD will receive our votes for the presidency of the regional parliament. " At the same time, the founder clarified her stance with a clear statement: " For us, it is beyond question that the AfD is entitled to the presidency of the regional parliament. " These positions shift the local political landscape from a numerical contest to choices of political and symbolic expediency.
Political reactions in Berlin and their impact on the CDU
The result in Saxony-Anhalt had immediate repercussions at the federal level. Pressure is mounting within the CDU and among its government partners, while the center-left has harshly criticized alliances with the radical right. Among public statements, Dirk Wiese, leader of the SPD group in the Bundestag, has called the applause from outside the far-right party unacceptable and warned: " I don't think we can put up with that, at least as the federal government. " These statements epitomize the fear that overtures or ambiguities toward the AfD could become a national problem for the governing coalition led by Chancellor Friedrich Merz.
Possibility of regional and previous governments
The situation is also complicated by other regional dynamics: in Thuringia, the AfD is already the largest parliamentary force and has previously attempted to win the presidency of the Landtag, but was rejected. In that region, several parties have been involved in coalitions that have suffered tensions and defections following overtures to more right-wing parties. In Saxony-Anhalt, the failure to secure an absolute majority makes the choices of small groups and their willingness to abstain or vote for the AfD crucial at various stages of the electoral process.
The new regional parliament must convene by October 6th, the deadline for the first session to elect the president of the Landtag and begin the process of forming a government. Until then, the outgoing government remains in office on an interim basis. The political game is being played out through alliances, calculated abstentions, and the stability of traditional parties in the face of an electorate that has significantly shifted its support toward the radical right.
In this context, public discourse is polarizing around a few key issues that fueled the electoral success: immigration, security, relations with Russia, and the demand for a more nationalist and conservative political line. The decisions made next month in Magdeburg will be closely watched both locally and in Berlin, as they could redefine the parties' balance of power and strategies in the upcoming elections.