07.09.2026 07:30
In the elections in the German state of Saxony-Anhalt, the AfD achieved a historic result with 43.8 percent of the vote. Following the results, attention turned to a speech previously given by AfD co-leader Alice Weidel. Weidel had said that the message 'Germany's borders are closed' would be sent to the world; she had advocated for cuts to social benefits, large-scale deportations, and the controversial 'remigration' policy.
A result that could shake the country's politics emerged from the elections held in the state of Saxony-Anhalt in eastern Germany. The AfD came out on top in the election with 43.8 percent of the vote and won 39 of the 83 seats in the state parliament.
Chancellor Friedrich Merz's party, the CDU, remained far behind the AfD with 17.2 percent. The result became one of the AfD's greatest state election successes to date and also drew widespread coverage in the international press.
APPROACHED ONE IN TWO VOTERS
The AfD's vote share showed a significant increase compared to the 2021 Saxony-Anhalt elections. Reaching 43.8 percent, the party fell just short of the majority needed to govern alone by only 3 seats.
Voter turnout was also quite high at 77.8 percent. It is noted that the AfD received significant support, particularly from voters who had not previously gone to the polls.
ATTENTION TURNED TO ALICE WEIDEL
The historic result has reopened debate on the migration policies previously announced by AfD co-leader Alice Weidel. At her party's congress in Riesa in January 2025, Weidel presented the 100-day plan she wanted implemented if the AfD were to join the federal government.
Weidel said Germany's borders would be completely closed and those trying to enter the country without documents would be turned back.
"GERMANY'S BORDERS ARE CLOSED"
In her speech, Weidel stated that the message "Germany's borders are closed" would be clearly sent to the world.
As part of the plan, she advocated converting payments made to asylum seekers from cash to in-kind benefits, cutting social benefits for people without the right to remain in Germany, and carrying out large-scale deportation operations. Weidel also explicitly used the highly controversial term "remigration."
A RESULT SHAKING POLITICAL BALANCES IN GERMANY
However, the election victory does not automatically mean the AfD will form the government in Saxony-Anhalt. The other major parties in Germany maintain their policy of not forming coalitions with the AfD. Since the AfD has 39 lawmakers in the 83-seat parliament, it does not hold an outright majority.
Despite this, the election result is considered a historic political rupture for Germany. The Financial Times described the AfD's result as an unprecedented success for the far right at the state level since the Second World War, while also noting that the result places significant pressure on Chancellor Friedrich Merz.