AfD leader Ulrich Siegmund emerged as the decisive winner in the Saxony-Anhalt state election on Sunday, positioning himself to become state premier. Siegmund said his party is open to coalition talks with any interested party but will not compromise on its values.
Ulrich Siegmund, the AfD's state leader in Saxony-Anhalt, is set to become state premier after the far-right party secured 44.5% of the vote in Sunday's state election — the first time a far-right party is poised to lead a German state government since World War II. Speaking Sunday evening, Siegmund declared his party is open to coalition talks with any interested party but will not compromise on the AfD's core values. The result, confirmed in final counts, more than doubled the 18.5% achieved by Chancellor Friedrich Merz's CDU.
The Zioneer tracked the election throughout the day Sunday. By midday, turnout had surged to 54.4%, double the 2021 figure. Exit polls from ARD, ZDF, and N12 correspondent Asaf Rozentzweig initially projected the AfD at 44%, later finalized at 44.5%. The party fell short of an absolute majority, meaning Siegmund will need coalition partners to govern.
The Zioneer previously reported that Germany's domestic intelligence agency has classified a growing number of AfD members as far-right extremists, with a 40% increase to approximately 28,000 individuals. The party presents a complex challenge for Israel and the Jewish community: it has positioned itself as a supporter of Israel while facing persistent accusations of antisemitism and historical revisionism. The result places Chancellor Merz's federal government under added pressure, as the AfD surge reflects deep voter discontent with the economy and immigration policies.
Siegmund's path to forming a government remains uncertain. The CDU has long maintained a "firewall" against cooperation with the AfD at the federal level, and it remains unclear whether any party will break that taboo to enter coalition talks in Saxony-Anhalt. The AfD fell just short of an absolute majority, making a coalition partner essential.
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