According to the first electoral projections, the far-right party Alternative for Germany (AfD) is heading for a big victory in the eastern state of Saxony-Anhalt.
The AfD is expected to win 44.5% of the vote, well ahead of the conservative Christian Democratic Union (CDU), which wins 18.5%.
The result would represent a significant breakthrough for the AfD, although it is still unclear whether the party will win enough seats to govern the state on its own.
AfD state leader Ulrich Siegmund described the projected result as a “historic result” and said the party had received the mandate to govern. He has also ruled out forming a government with other parties.
No far-right party has controlled a German state since the end of World War II. If the AfD takes power in Saxony-Anhalt, it would gain influence in areas such as police, education and culture.
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Saxony-Anhalt has a population of approximately 2.1 million people. The AfD is classified by the German intelligence service in this state as “right-wing extremist,” although Siegmund rejects that classification.
AfD supporters celebrated at the party’s election headquarters when the screenings were announced, with crowds cheering and later singing Germany’s national anthem.
“We have made history in this state,” Siegmund told his supporters.
CDU state leader Sven Schulze admitted that the AfD had won the election and acknowledged that his party would have to respond to the result.
However, the final balance of power will depend on which smaller parties manage to enter the state parliament. Parties must receive at least 5% of the vote to win seats.
If one or more smaller parties fail to cross the threshold, the AfD could gain a larger share of seats and potentially come closer to securing a majority.
The projected result is stronger than previous opinion polls had suggested, highlighting growing support for the AfD in eastern Germany.
The final result will determine whether the party can govern alone or if other parties will need to form an alternative coalition.
(BBC News)
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