Germany's far-right AfD celebrates ahead of possible historic win in Saxony-Anhalt

Voting concluded on Wednesday, September 6, 2026, in state elections in Saxony-Anhalt, Germany, with polls indicating a lead for the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party. Campaigning under the slogan "Everything is possible," the party has described the vote as a seminal moment for the country.

Ulrich Siegmund, the AfD's top candidate in the state, has been polling in first place heading into the election and is described as aware that he holds a piece of history in his hands. Should the results confirm the polling, Saxony-Anhalt would become the first German state to be led by a far-right party since the Second World War.

Concerns and the "firewall"

This week's headlines have largely centered on that very prospect. Fear of Germany's past resurfacing, along with concern over what a far-right-led state could mean going forward, has prompted other parties to maintain what is known in German as the "Brandmauer" — a firewall, or sanitary cordon, under which mainstream parties agree to keep their distance from the AfD. German intelligence services have designated parts of the party as right-wing extremist.

Still, observers note this is a different AfD than in years past. The party's once-vitriolic slogans, such as "Enough is Enough," have given way to a more upbeat tone. Despite this shift, Der Spiegel magazine has labelled the party's leader Germany's "Most Dangerous Man," describing him as a quote-friendly, approachable figure whose persona conceals a far more radical agenda.

Siegmund has dismissed such characterizations as a typical establishment smear and fake public relations. On election night, he was even seen signing copies of the magazine cover bearing that description.