The Alternative for Germany (AfD) has received a “clear mandate” to form a government in the German state of Saxony-Anhalt following the September 6 election, AfD co-leader Alice Weidel said on ZDF.
Weidel described the result as “historic,” arguing that the isolation of the AfD by traditional parties had led the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) to defeat.
Saxony-Anhalt Minister-President and CDU candidate Sven Schulze conceded defeat. “I would like to congratulate the election winner. We, on the other hand, suffered a defeat,” Bild quoted him as saying.
According to exit polls, the AfD secured 44.5% of the vote, more than doubling its 2021 result. Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s CDU won around 18.5%.
However, ZDF noted that despite its strong performance, the AfD’s ability to form a government on its own remains uncertain. Preliminary estimates indicate that the party is one seat short of an absolute majority in the state parliament. Other parliamentary groups have previously ruled out forming a coalition with the AfD.
By Jeyhun Aghazada
