German voters head to polls as far-right AfD party eyes historic state win

Saxony-Anhalt elections could see AfD become the first far-right party to take power at a state level since WWII.Published On 6 Sep 20266 Sep 2026Voters in the eastern German state of Saxony-Anhalt will head to closely watched polls on Sunday that could see the Alternative for Germany (AfD) become the first far-right party to take power at a state level since World War II.Recent surveys place AfD at 40 percent, ahead of the centre-right Christian Democrats (CDU) at 23 percent.AfD has led comfortably in the polls for months and has a chance at winning an absolute majority if several smaller parties fail to clear the 5 percent threshold to enter the German parliament. The results, however, are not guaranteed.A CDU-led administration under incumbent state premier Sven Schulze is the most likely outcome if the AfD does not win a majority.Weeks ⁠of coalition talks could follow the vote, depending on which parties surpass the 5 percent minimum.AfD candidate Ulrich Siegmund, who was previously a member of the CDU, predicted gaining an absolute majority that would lead the anti-establishment party to national victory in 2029. He was named “Germany’s most dangerous man” by the influential m...