German voters in Saxony-Anhalt head to polls Sunday as AfD leads at 40% and could claim first far‑right state government since World War II, a result that would reshape the balance of power ahead of the 2029 federal election.
Voters will elect a new state parliament on Sunday, with the AfD at 40% versus the CDU’s 23%; parties must exceed 5% of second‑vote share to win seats, and smaller parties may fall below the threshold, potentially allowing the AfD to secure an outright majority, while CDU premier Sven Schulze and AfD candidate Ulrich Siegmund campaign amid a 15,000‑20,000‑person democracy rally in Magdeburg the night before.
An absolute AfD majority would lift the party above the longstanding firewall, enabling it to govern without coalition partners and signalling a shift in German political dynamics, while a shortfall would force the CDU to pursue extended coalition negotiations with other parties that must clear the 5% hurdle.