Friedrich Merz has pledged to remain in office despite a far-right breakthrough that has brought anti-immigrant, pro-Kremlin politicians within striking distance of power in Germany's eastern heartland. Appearing visibly shaken before reporters in Berlin on Monday, the chancellor said the Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) landslide in Saxony-Anhalt had struck his conservative Christian Democratic Union (CDU) "to its very foundations".
According to , the AfD secured 43.8% of the vote on 6 September 2026, winning 39 of the state parliament's 83 seats—three seats short of the 42 needed for an absolute majority. The CDU finished a distant second with 17.2%, marking what Merz described as "the worst electoral defeat the [CDU] has suffered in years, in decades."
The unpopular chancellor, who had pledged to halve the AfD's support at the national level, has instead watched the nativist party accumulate electoral gains across Germany. The Saxony-Anhalt result represents the party's most convincing performance to date, leaving it positioned to reshape the state's political landscape.
Why is Merz under pressure?
Merz conceded that his own low poll ratings had contributed significantly to his party's collapse. "I know that I personally was a constant topic in this election campaign," he acknowledged, adding that he and his party "must try to reach people more effectively, in the full range of their emotions." Several influential commentators openly called for his immediate replacement, with one prominent voice declaring that Germany "needs a clean slate, a fresh start, and that starts with Friedrich Merz."
Exit polling revealed that state voters were driven by deep dissatisfaction with the political establishment and its management of Europe's largest economy. Ulrich Siegmund, the 35-year-old AfD candidate and former fragrance salesman, proved adept at channelling grievances in the former communist east, where complaints persist that residents are treated as "second-class citizens" more than three decades after the Berlin Wall's collapse.
Siegmund mocked the 70-year-old Merz as "a very good campaigner" for the AfD, a barb that underscored the chancellor's vulnerability. Yet Merz remained defiant about his reform agenda. "My determination to continue on the path of reform is unbroken," he insisted, describing a sustainable system as essential for "our children and grandchildren." He added: "Giving up is not an option for me."
What happens to the Saxony-Anhalt government?
The AfD fell short of an outright majority, leaving coalition mathematics as the immediate challenge. According to Deutsche Welle, state premier Sven Schulze and his cabinet will remain in office in a caretaker capacity until a new premier is elected. The previous governing coalition of the CDU, SPD and FDP will end following the election.
Schulze, the outgoing CDU state premier, acknowledged his party had "no mandate" to govern given its humiliating result, even if it managed to assemble an unwieldy coalition with all other parties in the legislature.
The AfD has signalled its intent to secure power by recruiting rebel lawmakers from other parties willing to serve as kingmakers. Party co-leader Alice Weidel called the result "historic" and said the party has a "clear mandate" to govern. Before the election, most mainstream parties had ruled out formal cooperation with the AfD, maintaining a "firewall" strategy intended to sideline the far right. Yet this permanent outsider status appears to have backfired, appealing to legions of voters fed up with conventional politics.
The Saxony-Anhalt chapter of the AfD is listed as "confirmed rightwing extremist" by Germany's domestic intelligence service. The party has pledged policies that critics argue would be illegal, while promising massive boosts in social welfare spending with unclear financing. It has also targeted state support for public broadcasters and cultural institutions, sparking fears of "cultural hegemony".
What are the broader implications for Germany?
Merz sought to reassure Germany's allies and vulnerable minorities that "our institutions are resilient and stable" and that the country would stick to its values and constitution even if the AfD took power in Saxony-Anhalt. "We know that Germany carries special responsibility because of its history," he said.
He also promised to maintain course on Ukraine, stressing he would "not budge a single millimetre from my fundamental conviction that we must defend our freedom against Russia as well." Merz accused Moscow of lending support to the far right's campaign, a charge reflecting broader concerns about external interference in German politics.
The CDU's junior coalition partner, the Social Democrats, indicated a willingness to water down contentious measures to shore up statutory healthcare and other services. However, Merz rejected any retreat from his reform programme, insisting that a sustainable system was essential for future generations.
Although the CDU rallied behind its chancellor and party leader at the national level, the party faces a complex political landscape. According to The New York Times, coalition talks will determine whether the CDU can still lead the state if it can unite the SPD, Die Linke and BSW against the AfD. The new Landtag will need to elect a state premier before the caretaker government can stand down.
Although Saxony-Anhalt forms part of the AfD heartland as a relatively poor, former communist region, the party has begun making inroads in western states as well, amid alarming signs of decline in the steel, chemicals and automotive sectors. The party's appeal extends beyond the east, suggesting a broader realignment in German politics.
What comes next for Germany?
Germany faces two further regional elections on 20 September 2026, in Berlin and in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, another eastern state where the AfD is also strong. These contests will test whether the Saxony-Anhalt result signals a sustained shift in voter behaviour or a localized protest vote.
Weidel, beaming after the Sunday vote, said the AfD is now targeting 40% at the next general election, due in 2029. The party is currently polling at approximately 28%, suggesting significant room for growth if current trends persist.
The official provisional result was expected overnight or in the early hours of Monday, with the definitive result to be announced later by the state electoral committee. The immediate focus will shift to whether anti-AfD parties can assemble a majority in the Landtag and, if so, which combination of parties might govern the state.
Key Facts
- The AfD won 43.8% of the vote in Saxony-Anhalt on 6 September 2026, securing 39 of 83 parliamentary seats but falling three short of an absolute majority.
- The CDU collapsed to 17.2%, prompting Chancellor Merz to describe it as the party's worst electoral defeat in decades.
- State premier Sven Schulze will remain in a caretaker capacity until a new premier is elected by the Landtag.
- Germany will hold two more regional elections on 20 September 2026 in Berlin and Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, where the AfD is also competitive.
- The AfD is targeting 40% support at the next federal election in 2029, up from its current polling of approximately 28%.
