AfD's Rise Reshapes Germany's Political Landscape

AfD Wins in Saxony-Anhalt

Germany's political landscape has entered a new phase following the Alternative for Germany's (AfD) decisive victory in the Saxony-Anhalt state election.

The AfD received 43.8% of the vote, finishing well ahead of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU). However, the party narrowly missed an absolute majority in the state parliament and therefore cannot govern alone.

The result is nevertheless historic. It puts the AfD closer to forming a state government than any far-right party in Germany has been since the Second World War.

Pressure on Friedrich Merz

The result has increased political pressure on Chancellor Friedrich Merz and his governing coalition.

Merz's CDU suffered a major setback in Saxony-Anhalt, while the AfD's strong performance reflected broader dissatisfaction with the federal government's handling of bureaucracy, the cost of living, economic uncertainty and social reforms. Reuters reported that Merz's approval ratings are already at a historic low.

The Chancellor has nevertheless defended his government's planned reforms, including changes to pensions and sick-pay rules, arguing that they must continue despite the electoral backlash.

Merz Escalates His Attack on AfD

The political confrontation intensified in the Bundestag on September 9.

Merz accused the AfD of promoting a policy of "remigration" that he described as discriminatory and compared with ethnic cleansing. He also criticised the party's position toward Russia and its opposition to continued German support for Ukraine.

AfD leaders have rejected such accusations and portray the party's growing support as evidence that voters want a fundamental change in Germany's migration and political policies.

The confrontation illustrates the widening divide between Germany's mainstream parties and the AfD.

Immigration at the Center

Immigration remains one of the central issues behind the AfD's political rise.

The party has built much of its support around stricter immigration policies and opposition to what it describes as uncontrolled migration. President Donald Trump also attributed the AfD's success in Saxony-Anhalt to what he called Germany's "horrible" immigration rules.

However, the AfD's gains cannot be explained by immigration alone.

Economic insecurity, rising living costs, dissatisfaction with government performance and concerns over Germany's economic future have also contributed to growing support for the party, particularly in eastern Germany.

The Russia Question

The AfD's foreign-policy position has added another dimension to the political debate.

The party has advocated closer relations with Moscow and opposed aspects of Germany's current policy toward Russia and Ukraine. This has raised concerns among German political and security officials about the implications of an AfD-led government.

The issue has become particularly sensitive following recent security concerns in Germany.

On September 9, Merz said a planned drone attack targeting Leipzig/Halle Airport had been prepared in Russia over several months. Russia denied involvement and rejected the allegation.

The timing has added to the political debate over Russia and the AfD, although there is no claim that the AfD was involved in the reported drone incident.

Can AfD Form a Government?

Despite winning 43.8% of the vote, the AfD does not have an automatic path to governing Saxony-Anhalt.

The party won 39 of 83 seats, falling short of an outright majority. The CDU, SPD, Greens and Left Party have rejected cooperation with the AfD. The Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance (BSW) has also refused to support an AfD-led government outright, although it has indicated that it could support certain policies.

AfD leader Ulrich Siegmund has said he wants to seek the state premiership only if he has a stable majority.

This means that the election victory has not automatically translated into government power.

A Wider European Trend

The AfD's success is being closely watched beyond Germany.

The party's rise comes as several European countries experience growing support for right-wing and anti-immigration parties. Germany's political system has historically maintained a strong barrier between mainstream parties and the far right, making the AfD's electoral breakthrough particularly significant.

The question now is whether mainstream parties can address voters' concerns over immigration, economic insecurity and government performance without further strengthening the AfD.

For Merz, the challenge is especially difficult: moving closer to AfD positions could alienate centrist voters, while failing to address the issues driving AfD support could allow the party to gain even more ground.

What Comes Next?

The immediate test will be the formation of a government in Saxony-Anhalt and the performance of the AfD in upcoming state elections.

The party's 43.8% result demonstrates that it has established itself as a major political force in eastern Germany. The more important question is whether that support can be transformed into governing power and eventually expanded across the country.

For Merz and Germany's mainstream parties, the election is therefore more than a state-level setback. It is a warning that dissatisfaction over immigration, economic conditions and government performance is reshaping the country's political competition.

Germany's political establishment now faces a difficult task: contain the AfD while addressing the issues that have driven millions of voters toward it.