According to preliminary results published on the website of the state returning officer, the AfD led by top candidate Ulrich Siegmund won the Saxony-Anhalt state election with a wide margin on [Time] but missed an absolute majority. The CDU led by Minister President Sven Schulze finished second with severe losses, as reported by the official election portal.
Ulrich Siegmund and AfD Secure Landslide Victory in Saxony-Anhalt
The AfD more than doubled its vote share to 43.8 percent, up from 20.8 percent in 2021, according to preliminary results. This marks the best figure achieved by any party in state elections over the past decade and sets a new record for the AfD. Party leaders Tino Chrupalla and Alice Weidel joined Ulrich Siegmund at the election party in Magdeburg to celebrate the victory, captured in photos by Keystone. With this surge, the AfD secures 39 seats in the state parliament, compared to 23 seats previously.
For the first time since the end of the Second World War, a party classified as confirmed right-wing extremist could potentially come to power in a federal state. However, the AfD fell short of the absolute majority needed to govern alone. Whether the party can win over individual lawmakers from other parliamentary groups to elect Siegmund as minister president remains unclear. All other parties in the state parliament ruled out a coalition with the AfD prior to the vote.
CDU Suffers Historic Losses While Smaller Parties Shift Landscape
According to the preliminary election data, the CDU crashed to 17.2 percent down from 37.1 percent in the previous election, marking its worst result in a Saxony-Anhalt state election. The party’s mandate count dropped sharply from 40 seats down to 15 seats in the Magdeburg parliament. Voter turnout reached 77.8 percent, a significant jump from 60.3 percent in 2021 and the highest turnout recorded in Saxony-Anhalt since reunification among the roughly 1.7 million eligible voters.
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Meanwhile, the Left party lost ground to finish at 8.6 percent compared to 11 percent previously, translating to 8 mandates down from 12. The SPD improved slightly from a low baseline to reach 9.3 percent up from 8.4 percent, securing 8 seats. The Greens achieved their best result in a Saxony-Anhalt state election at 8.9 percent up from 5.9 percent, also winning 8 seats compared to 6 previously. The FDP failed to clear the five percent hurdle, dropping to 2.6 percent from 6.4 percent, prompting state leader Sylvia Hüskens to announce her resignation. The Bündnis Sahra Wagenknecht (BSW) cleared the threshold after a tense wait, entering the Magdeburg state parliament for the first time with 5.3 percent of the vote and 5 deputies.
Did you know? Voter turnout in Saxony-Anhalt hit 77.8 percent, marking the highest participation rate recorded in the state since German reunification.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who won the Saxony-Anhalt state election?
According to preliminary results published by the state returning officer, the AfD with top candidate Ulrich Siegmund won the election with 43.8 percent of the vote.
How many seats did the AfD win in the state parliament?
The AfD secured 39 seats in the state parliament in Magdeburg, an increase from 23 seats in the 2021 election.
Did the FDP remain in the state parliament?
No, the FDP failed to clear the five percent threshold with 2.6 percent of the vote, leading state leader Sylvia Hüskens to announce her resignation.
What happened to the CDU in the election?
The CDU led by Minister President Sven Schulze suffered heavy losses, dropping to 17.2 percent and falling from 40 seats down to 15 seats in the state legislature.
https://x.com/UlrichSiegmund/status/2096733298965848336
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