The Alternative for Germany (AfD) has scored a historic victory in the state elections in Saxony-Anhalt, but has not achieved an absolute majority in parliament.
According to revised ARD exit poll projections, the AfD will receive around 44% of the vote and 39 of the 83 seats in the state parliament, while 42 seats are needed for an absolute majority.
The AfD is followed by the CDU with 17.8% of the vote and 16 seats, while the SPD gets 9.1%, the Left 8.8% and the Greens 8.7%, with 8 seats each. The Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance (BSW) has passed the electoral threshold with 5.1% and is expected to take 4 seats.
The AfD's result puts the party in a strong political position, but at the same time raises major questions about government formation, as other parties have traditionally been against cooperating with it.
AfD federal co-chair Alice Weidel has expressed her willingness to cooperate with the CDU if her party fails to form a government on its own. Co-chair Tino Chrupalla also stated that the AfD is open to talks if it does not secure an absolute majority.
On the other hand, AfD regional leader Ulrich Siegmund stated that the party will extend a hand to forces that want to implement different policies, but stressed that issues such as immigration and internal security are non-negotiable.
In the scenario where the BSW would not pass the 5% threshold, the additional mandates could significantly change the balance of power and potentially bring the AfD closer to an absolute majority.
The BSW, meanwhile, has left open the possibility of cooperating with the AfD on certain issues. Lead candidate Christina Wittich said the party could cooperate on a case-by-case basis, especially in areas such as energy.
Meanwhile, the CDU, SPD, Greens and The Left face the challenge of finding a governing formula that would enable the creation of a majority without the AfD.
The Left's main candidate, Eva von Angern, has stated that her party is ready, depending on the final result, to vote for a CDU candidate for prime minister, in order to prevent the AfD from taking office.
The elections in Saxony-Anhalt mark one of the AfD's strongest electoral results in a German state, but without an absolute majority, leaving the battle for the formation of the next government open.
