AfD sweeps Saxony-Anhalt vote, opening path to power in German state
The far-right Alternative for Germany, led by Ulrich Siegmund, has won a decisive victory in Saxony-Anhalt's regional election and could become the first far-right party to govern a German state since World War II.
Germany's Alternative for Germany (AfD) party has scored a sweeping victory in regional elections in Saxony-Anhalt, putting the party led by Ulrich Siegmund in a strong position to take control of the state government. Should that happen, it would mark the first time since World War II that a far-right party governs part of Germany.
The result has reverberated across Europe, with many viewing it as a symbolic turning point in Germany's postwar political landscape, where far-right parties have traditionally been kept out of power at every level.
Implications for Germany and Europe
On Politico's Brussels Playbook podcast, hosts Zoya Sheftalovich and Nick Vinocur spoke with Head of Playbook Germany Hans von der Burchard about what the AfD's win means for the rest of the country. The discussion touched on how the result could reshape strategies among Germany's mainstream parties and shift the broader political balance nationally.
The hosts also discussed the wider significance beyond Germany's borders, suggesting the outcome could embolden similar far-right movements elsewhere in Europe. At the same time, it was noted that the situation remains fluid, with no final decision yet made on how a government will actually be formed in Saxony-Anhalt.
The development is being seen as a major test for Germany's established parties, which have so far refused to cooperate with the AfD, and as a signal of shifting political sentiment in the region.
