Key facts
- The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) won 43.8% of the vote in Saxony-Anhalt.
- The CDU suffered its worst-ever result in the state, securing 17.2% of the vote.
- The AfD's victory is being called a 'turning point for our country' by CDU leadership.
- Mainstream parties are struggling to form a government that excludes the AfD.
- The AfD has claimed a mandate to govern and is preparing for various scenarios.
The German political landscape is reeling after the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) achieved a historic victory in the state elections of Saxony-Anhalt, securing 43.8% of the vote. This result represents a significant increase from previous elections and has caused widespread dismay among mainstream parties.
Residents expressed shock and concern over the AfD's surge. Maryam, whose father is from Syria, fears her family could face deportation under the AfD's proposed policies. Doreen, a voter who supported the AfD out of desperation, shrugged off concerns about the human impact of the party's platform, suggesting that refugees should not have come to Germany in such large numbers. She also expressed hope that the pro-Russia AfD would change policies regarding refugees and aid to Ukraine.
Elderly residents Ernst and Judith, who voted for Die Linke, were devastated by the outcome, with Judith drawing parallels to her own experience as a refugee. Franz Josef and Christiane Jäker criticized populists for undermining Germany's post-war rebuilding efforts and suppressing information about the conflict in Ukraine. Eric, a young man of mixed German and Guinean heritage, worries about the potential impact on his status and constitutional changes the AfD might enact.
Luisa, a bank teller, fears the election result will damage Saxony-Anhalt's reputation and lead to foreigners leaving the state, while others will be unable to afford to leave and will face mistreatment. Some interviewees noted parallels drawn by Holocaust survivors between the current political mood and the rise of Nazism, emphasizing the need for attention to these concerns.