Germany’s AfD wins in key state: Is far-right on cusp of national rule? - Al Jazeera

**Germany’s AfD Wins in Key State: Is the Far‑Right on the Cusp of National Rule?**

The Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) secured a decisive victory in the Saxony‑Anhalt state election on Saturday, emerging as the largest party with 27 % of the vote. While the result stops short of an outright majority, the AfD’s strong showing has given it a clear mandate to push for coalition talks with other parties, a move the party’s leadership has already urged. The Social Democratic Party (SPD) and the Greens, which together hold a slim combined share, have ruled out any formal partnership with the far‑right, citing irreconcilable policy differences, especially on immigration and rule‑of‑law issues. As a result, the state is likely to be governed by a coalition of the SPD, Greens, and the centre‑right Christian Democratic Union (CDU), with the CDU’s lead candidate, incumbent Minister‑President Reiner Haseloff, expected to remain in office.

The AfD’s surge in Saxony‑Anhalt mirrors a broader trend of growing support for right‑wing populist parties across Europe, prompting analysts to reassess the party’s trajectory at the national level. In Berlin, Chancellor Olaf Scholz, whose Social Democrats lead a fragile federal coalition, reaffirmed his commitment to remain in office and to uphold the “liberal democratic core” of the German state. He warned that any attempt to normalize the AfD’s presence in government could embolden extremist elements and weaken Germany’s standing within the European Union. The election outcome has also drawn attention from Moscow, where Russian officials have praised the result as a sign of “changing political winds” in the West, while U.S. diplomats expressed concern that a stronger AfD could complicate transatlantic cooperation on security and climate policy.

Despite the AfD’s electoral gains, the party remains short of a governing majority in Saxony‑Anhalt and faces legal and institutional hurdles that could limit its influence. German constitutional courts have previously scrutinized the AfD for alleged violations of democratic principles, and the federal government has pledged to monitor the party’s activities closely. As the new state parliament convenes in early November, the AfD will seek to leverage its parliamentary strength to shape policy debates, especially on fiscal matters and regional development, but will have to negotiate with parties that have publicly rejected any coalition with it. The coming weeks will reveal whether the AfD can translate its regional success into broader national momentum or remain confined to the margins of German politics.